William H. Collier, Portrait and Subject Painter
(b. about 1800, d. 1847)
Portrait and Subject Painter
From A Dictionary of Irish Artists 1913
Was born in Dublin in or about 1800, and received his art training in the Schools of the Dublin Society, and afterwards with Sir Thomas Lawrence. He practised as a portrait painter in Dublin, and first exhibited in the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1830, when his address was 26 D'Olier Street. In 1834 he was following his profession in Cork, and in an advertisement issued by him, stated that he had been seven years with Sir Thomas Lawrence. He afterwards lived in Abbey Street, Dublin, and from 1843 at No. 3 Upper Buckingham Street. The Royal Irish Art Union purchased in 1844, for £40, his "Ride on the Milk Donkey," and in 1845 his picture of "The Forbidden Fruit." A portrait by him of "W. H. Drummond, D.D." exhibited in 1846, was lithographed by Henry O'Neill. Among his subject pictures was "The Virgin and Infant Christ," exhibited in 1843. A contemporary notice comments upon the painter's "comical conception" of the subject. Collier was elected an Associate of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1836, was advanced to full honours in 1837, and was an active and zealous member of that body, taking great interest in its affairs. He was not however successful in his profession, and died suddenly in poverty and want on the 14th July, 1847, while his picture, "A Public Breakfast on Carlisle Bridge, a Winter's Morning," was on exhibition in the Academy.
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