Life
1809-1869; painter; son of Thomas Mulvany; keeper of RHA, 1845; Secretary to the Board of Trustees, 1855; first Director, 1862; portraits include John Banim and Thomas Moore; scenes of Irish life include “Kitchen Interior”, a source of detail on pre-famine Irish housing and furniture; compiled first catalogue, for the official opening in 1864, and made Dutch and Flemish purchases, notably Jordaen’s “Church Triumphant”; also made a portraits of John Banim and Daniel O’Connell. ODNB WJM
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Notes
“A Kitchen Interior”, oil painting printed in History Ireland (Summer 1994), p.35 [b.w], illustrating ‘the family as a woman’s work place’.
Kith & Kin? John Mulvany (c1839-1906), an Irish-born American artist, and painter of “The Battle of Aughrim” (1885) [otherwise “The Cavalry Fight at Urachree, 12 July 1691”], based on close research in London and viewed at one point by Michael Davitt but carried by the artist to America in fulfilment of a contract with the Irish-American Club in Chicago. Mulvany emig. to America where he established his reputation with a canvas of “General George A. Custer’s Last Rally” (1881; 18 x 33ft.). He was associated with Clan na Gael. His death arose from his connection with Dr. Patrick Henry Cronin who was murdered while attempting to indict Alexander Sullivan, a corrupt Chicago politician, likewise a member of Clan na Gael. around 1901 Mulvany commenced a painting entitled “The Anarchists”, showing a group of men cutting cards to decided who would commit a murder; Mulvany was found floating face down in the Hudson. The Aughrim painting was rediscovered on e-Bay by Niamh O’Sullivan (NCAD) in 2010. (See The Irish Times, 2 Oct. 2010), Weekend, p.8. Note: Mulvany is described as portrait painter and battle painter, with bio-dates given as 1844-1906 on Artfact website auction page [online; accessed 9.10.2010.]
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