Anthony Chearnley, Amateur

(fl. 1740-1785)

Amateur

From A Dictionary of Irish Artists 1913

Was of Burnt Court, Co. Tipperary, a house he had built himself, and afterwards of Spring Park, Affane, Co. Waterford. He married, as his second wife, Janet, daughter of Richard Musgrave of Salterbridge. Grose, "Antiquities of Ireland," says that he "deserves to be remembered for cultivating the art of design when few practised it in 1740 in Ireland." Engravings after drawings by him are in several works relating to Ireland. Three plates, viz., "Ardfinnan Castle," and two views of "Burnt Court" are in Grose's "Antiquities of Ireland"; three drawings by him were engraved by Giles King (q.v.) in 1746 for Smith's "History of Waterford," viz., views of "Lismore," "Dungarvan," and "Waterford," and three drawings were engraved by Thomas Chambars (q.v.) for Smith's "History of Cork"—"View of Cork from the North," "Prospect of Kingsale," and "East Prospect of Youghal." These are inscribed Antho: Chearnley gen: Burnt Court Delin. A fourth view, "West Prospect of Nave, etc., of Buttevant Abbey," is inscribed Antho: Chearnley Sculpt. In Ledwich's "Antiquities" is a "S.E. View of the Rock of Cashel," engraved by James Ford; and Maguire engraved a "Portrait of William Ferguson," Chearnley Pinxt. Grose says that Chearnley had a large collection of "Views from ancient remains which probably lie in private hands and well deserve to be made public." Chearnley's original drawings for Smith's "History of Waterford," done in Indian ink, belonged in 1783 to the Rev. Mervyn Archdall, together with other drawings. Chearnley died between July, 1785, and March, 1787.

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