The Life of Robert Lucius West
Born in Dublin around 1774, Robert Lucius West was an Irish artist, draughtsman, and teacher. He was the son of artist Francis Robert and Ellen West, and the grandson of Robert West, who served as the master of the Dublin Society figure school. Following in his family's footsteps, West studied under his father at this school, earning prize medals in 1795 and 1796. After winning a prize of 50 guineas for his portrait of John Foster in 1807, he traveled to London to further his studies, eventually exhibiting with the Royal Academy in 1808.
Upon his return to Dublin in 1809, West was appointed assistant at the figure school. Following his father's death that same year, he took over the running of the school. He later became a founding member of the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) in 1823.
Artistic Career and Works
West’s exhibition history includes appearances with the Society of Artists of Ireland, the Hibernian Society of Artists, the Irish Society of Artists, and the Cork Society for Promoting the Fine Arts. His work often focused on portraits, particularly military portraiture, such as Portrait of an officer of the 14th Light Dragoons (1809) and Portrait of Captain Hemmings, 58th Regiment (1811). He also painted religious subjects, including The crucifixion (1826) and The assumption of the Virgin (1828).
Other notable works attributed to him include:
- Portrait of John Philpot Curran (1827)
- Portrait of a Highland officer (1831)
- The ancient gateway at Glendalough (1846)
- Dunbrody abbey, Wexford (1848)
