Richard Rothwell 1800 - 1868
Richard was the eldest of seven children to James Rothwell and Elizabeth Holmes. He was born in Northgate Street, Athlone in 1800. He entered the Dublin's Society art school in 1814 and spent five years studying there. He was skilled at drawing and in 1820 won a silver medal. From early in his career he was determined to be a portrait painter. In 1824 he was elected as an associate of the Royal Hibernian Academy and became a full member in 1826.

He exhibited at the R.H.A. until 1829 when he moved to London. He quickly became an established portraitist and was commissioned by aristocrats and royalty. In 1831 he moved to Italy for three years to study the Old Masters. When he returned to London he had difficulty regaining his former status as others had replaced him as a favoured portrait painter. He decided to diversify and paint history and subject paintings. He was restless in England and returned to Dublin in 1847 but only stayed five years.

He went back to London in 1852 and stayed there until he departed for America in 1854. Rothwell remained unsettled and moved from America to London and from there to Rome.


'Girl with flowers' by Richard Rothwell.
Reproduced by kind permission of
'Treasures', 39 Church Street, Athlone, Ireland.
Email: treasuresathlone@gmail.com


He died in Rome in 1868. Had he managed to pursue his career as a portrait painter he would surely have been a major artist.

Works by Rothwell are held in the National Gallery of Ireland; Ulster Museum, Belfast; Royal Collection, London and the National Portrait Gallery, London.

The painting illustrated above of a 'Girl with Flowers' is a portrait of Rosa Marshall, who sat for Rothwell and whom he later married.

Portrait of Richard Rothwell courtesy of
the Rothwell Gallery, Church Street, Athlone.



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