This comprehensive examination of Irish artists traces the development of Irish art from its roots in the Romantic movement to the end of the 20th century and shows how it has reflected the growth of a national self-consciousness and the evolution of Irish culture. While Irish writers have achieved international prominence, Irish artists have made relatively little impact abroad. Yet for more than a century and a half, Ireland has continually produced painters and sculptors of considerable status. From the work of major artists such as Danby, Maclise, and Mulready to Nathaniel Horne, John Lavery, and Jack Yeats, this book illustrates the rise of Irish painting and its inseparable link to Ireland’s progress toward national independence.