William Bertrand, Portrait Painter

(fl. 1765-1770)

Portrait Painter

From A Dictionary of Irish Artists 1913

A native of France, who had been a fellow-pupil of Robert West (q.v.) in Paris. Coming to Dublin he started as a portrait-painter and his work, especially portraits in chalk, was much admired. Though an artist of some ability he did not meet with sufficient encouragement, was obliged to support himself by teaching, and opened a drawing school in Arran Quay in 1765. An advertisement in a Dublin paper of that year says: "Mr. Bertrand, painter, being encouraged by several of his friends, has resolved to instruct in the principles of drawing (on the usual terms) such persons as are desirous of acquiring a proficiency in that polite and useful accomplishment; for which purpose he has opened a school at his apartments at Mr. FitzGerald's, attorney, on Arran Quay. Dublin, December 17th, 1765." Bertrand exhibited portraits, etc., in oil and crayon at the Society of Artists in Dublin from 1765 to 1770. In 1766 he obtained a premium from the Dublin Society of £5 13s. 9d. for "the best engraved print from an original design," and £11 7s. 6d. for the best full-length portrait. He left Dublin in 1770, and went to Paris, and no further account of him has been found.

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