Charles Forrest, Portrait Painter in Crayons
(fl. 1771-1780)
Portrait Painter in Crayons
From A Dictionary of Irish Artists 1913
After studying in the Dublin Society's School, where he was admitted as a pupil in 1765, he began to exhibit with the Society of Artists in William Street in 1771, sending from his address in Kevin's Port six portraits in chalks. He continued to exhibit during the three following years, sending miniatures as well as chalk portraits, in 1774. The Dublin Society awarded him a premium of five pounds in 1772 for a drawing in chalks. In 1776 he sent seven portraits to the Society of Artists in London, but this was his only venture out of Ireland. He appeared for the last time as an exhibitor in Dublin in 1780, when he contributed thirteen miniatures to the Society of Artists in William Street. Four drawings in black chalk, small theatrical portraits, signed and dated 1772, are at Carton. A water-colour drawing by him of "Dunbrody Abbey" is in Gabriel Beranger's collection of drawings in the Royal Irish Academy.