William Brocas, Portrait and Figure Painter
(b. about 1794, d. 1868)
Portrait and Figure Painter
From A Dictionary of Irish Artists 1913
William Brocas, R.H.A. Photograph.
Brother of the above, being third son of Henry Brocas, senr. (q.v.) was born about 1794. He practised in Dublin and was an exhibitor at the Society of Artists in 1809 and 1812, and at the Royal Hibernian Academy in various years from 1828 to 1863. His contributions were chiefly portraits and figure subjects, with an occasional landscape. He was President of the Society of Irish Artists which held its first exhibition at the Royal Irish Institution in College Street in 1843; was elected an Associate of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1854, and a Member in 1860. Amongst his works are "Roderic O'Conor's Castle," purchased by the Royal Irish Art Union in 1841, and won as a prize by J. K. Andrews, Dame Street; "Sunday Morning," exhibited in the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1847, and engraved by Robert C. Bell, for the National Art Union; "Girl with Potheen and Goat's Milk, Killarney," exhibited in 1841, "An Irish Fair," 1842, and "The Forge," 1858.
His "Departure of Irish Emigrants," was purchased by the Royal Irish Art Union in 1842, for sixty pounds and was in the Dublin Exhibition of 1865. A "Portrait of George F. Brooke," and one of "The Infant Daughter of Charles Halpin," were exhibited at the Society of Irish Artists in 1845; and his "Portrait of the Rev. C. R. Maturin" was engraved by H. Meyer for the "New Monthly Magazine," 1819. In Warburton, Whitelaw and Walsh's "History of Dublin," published in 1818, is a view by him of the "New Post Office," engraved by J. Martyn. The National Gallery of Ireland possesses a "View of Bray Head," an oil picture by him. Brocas etched some caricatures for James Sidebotham of Sackville Street, and also a few portraits, among them, "The Grand Duke Michael," "Thomas McKenny, Lord Mayor," and "Edward Bunting," 1811. He also did a number of etchings after Hogarth's engravings which were published in Dublin by Le Petit; a folio etching, "Christus Crucifixus," also published by Le Petit, and an etched "View of Moira House," 1811. A good book-plate for "Sir Thomas Deane, Architect," was drawn and engraved by him.
William Brocas died at his residence, 120 Baggot Street, on 12th November, 1868.
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