John E. Ferneley, Animal Painter
(b. 1781, d. 1860)
Animal Painter
From A Dictionary of Irish Artists 1913
An English artist, born in 1781, originally a wheelwright. Abandoning that trade he studied art and became an excellent painter of animals. He exhibited sporting pictures, mostly portraits of huntsmen, horses and hounds, at the Royal Academy from 1806 to 1855. He was for a short time in Ireland, and exhibited portraits of dogs and horses at the Dublin Society's House in Hawkins Street in 1809 and 1810. He was patronized by Lord Lismore, and worked in the south of Ireland as well as in Dublin. Hunting scenes by him are to be found in many Irish country houses. Returning to England he settled at Melton Mowbray. He died on 3rd June, 1860. A Claude L. Ferneley sent a picture from Melton Mowbray to the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1851, and another in 1853, his address being then given as 21 Ellis Quay.