Early Life, Family and Training
Augustus Nicholas Burke was born on 28 July 1838 at Waterslade House in the town of Tuam, County Galway. He was the sixth son of William Burke of Knocknagur. His family roots were tied to the Burkes of Glinsk, a lineage that included his brother, Theobald Hubert Burke, who held the title of 13th Baronet of Glinsk. Another brother, Thomas Henry Burke, served as the Permanent Under Secretary at the Irish Office. These connections placed him within a family of established social standing in Ireland.
His early interest in drawing was marked by a specific focus on the people and the landscape of Connemara. This pull toward the local terrain and its inhabitants would shape much of his later work. His formal path into the arts began when he moved to London. It was at the Royal Academy that his career in the arts was initiated, providing the foundation for his later roles and exhibitions.
Career and Artistic Travels
His career found its footing at the Royal Academy in London, but his presence was most felt within the Royal Hibernian Academy. He became an Academician of the RHA and held the position of Professor of Painting there. His work often sought out the specific light and character of the places he visited. Between 1870 and 1872, he lived in the Netherlands, where he spent his time illustrating various Dutch scenes. He also traveled through Scotland and England, capturing the landscapes and people encountered along the way.
He was among the first Irish artists to make the trip to Brittany. This interest in the region resulted in fifteen Breton scenes that he exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy between 1876 and 1878. Later, in the 1880s, he moved to Walberswick in Suffolk. He joined an artist's colony there, working alongside others like Walter Osborne. His time in these coastal settings reflected a continued focus on the relationship between the land and those who lived upon it.
Later Years and Death
The stability of his professional life shifted abruptly in 1882. Following the murder of his brother, Thomas Henry Burke, during the Phoenix Park Murders, the weight of the event led him to leave his position as Professor of Painting at the Royal Hibernian Academy. He stepped away from the institution he had served for many years, leaving behind the academic circles of Dublin.
He moved with the remaining members of his family to England, seeking a different environment. This period of transition eventually led him toward Italy. He spent his final years in Florence, where he died in 1891.
Key Works and Museum Collections
Much of what remains of his output survived against the odds. A significant portion of his studio was lost during the fire that took the Abbey Street buildings of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1916. For over ninety years, many of his paintings remained hidden away in a cellar, unseen until their recent discovery. This loss makes the surviving pieces even more significant to those studying his hand.
The National Gallery of Ireland holds some of his most recognizable subjects. Among these are Connemara Girl, a work dating from about 1850, and A Connemara Landscape. These paintings reflect his long-standing interest in the people and the terrain of the Connemara region. His focus on these specific landscapes and rural scenes remains a central part of his surviving legacy.
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