Arthur Joy, Historical and Subject Painter
(b. about 1808, d. 1838)
Historical and Subject Painter
From A Dictionary of Irish Artists 1913
A native of Dublin, where he was born about 1808. He commenced his art studies under Robert L. West, and continued them in Paris and in Holland. In 1828 he contributed some "Views in the Bay of Dublin" to the Royal Hibernian Academy, and in 1830 a "View in the Dargle." He continued to exhibit each year until 1837, gradually advancing in his art and displaying much originality and power. An excellent draughtsman and a good colourist, he worked energetically to fulfil his ambition to become a great painter. On the 18th January, 1836, he was elected an Associate, and on 20th February, 1837, a Member of the Royal Hibernian Academy. In the latter year he went to London, and in 1838 sent a small picture, "A Welsh Peasant Girl," to the British Institution. Unfortunately he was not spared to fulfil the promise of his early work. He had made a marriage against the wishes of his parents which turned out unhappily and hastened his death. He died at 65 Newman Street, London, on the morning of the 16th November, 1838, of heart disease, at the age of about 29 years. He left unfinished a large picture of "Charles I taking leave of his family." His "Don Quixote in the Inn-yard," said to have been a fine work, was in the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1836; and in the same year he showed some water-colour views of Rouen. "In the Slave Market" was lent to the Belfast Exhibition in 1888 by James Thompson of Belfast.