Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Daniel Maclise died in 1870; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1940.
In context
First Steps — Daniel Maclise
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 64 at death.
Painted when the artist was 23. The artist lived to 64. 0 of the 10 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.
Shaded: the lifetime of Daniel Maclise (1806–1870) ▲ this work, 1829 every dated painting, decade by decade
First works: up to 1836 Main working years: 1836–1859 Late works: from 1859
Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: artsdot.com/en/art/similar/daniel-maclise-first-steps-AQZCUD-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Driftwood #817440
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 54.3% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 221 works by this artist, of which 48 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in Cork, Ireland
Born: January 25, 1806, Cork, Ireland
Died: April 25, 1870, London, England
Parents: Alexander McLish (tanner/shoemaker) and Rebecca McLeish
Early education in Cork; showed artistic talent from a young age.
Studied at the Cork School of Art, focusing on drawing and anatomy.
Self-funded move to London in 1827 to pursue art studies.
Entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1828, excelling in life drawing and history painting.
Rapidly gained recognition for his portrait skills, notably depicting Charles Kean and Niccolò Paganini.
Contributed significantly to Fraser's Magazine under the pseudonym "Alfred Croquis," creating a series of character portraits that enhanced his reputation.
Became an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1835 and a full member in 1840.
Notable Works:
The Meeting of Wellington and Blücher after the Battle of Waterloo (located at Westminster Palace)
The Death of Nelson (located at Westminster Palace) – A monumental fresco considered one of his masterpieces.
The Chivalric Vow of the Ladies and the Peacock
Illustrations for Charles Dickens' Christmas books and other works.
Maclise’s style blended historical narrative with elements of realism and portraiture.
Influenced by French and classical art, particularly after his visit to Paris in 1830.
His work often depicted scenes from history, literature (Shakespeare), and mythology.
Demonstrated a keen eye for detail and characterization in both portraits and historical compositions.
Intense dedication to his art took a toll on his health.
Declined the presidency of the Royal Academy in 1865 due to declining health.
Died in Chelsea, London, in 1870.
A memoir was published by William Justin O'Driscoll in 1871.
Maclise’s murals at Westminster Palace remain significant contributions to British art and architecture.
His illustrations for Dickens helped popularize the author's works.
Considered a key figure in Victorian-era history painting, bridging the gap between Neoclassicism and Realism.
Maclise played a crucial role in documenting significant historical events and figures for a wider audience.
His work reflects the cultural and artistic trends of the 19th century, particularly the Victorian era's fascination with history and literature.
He helped establish the tradition of large-scale narrative painting within British art.
His contributions to Westminster Palace’s decoration are integral to the building's aesthetic and symbolic importance.
artsdot.com/en/art/download/daniel-maclise-first-steps-AQZCUD-en/
Look closely
First Steps — Daniel Maclise
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
The color identity of "First Steps" by Daniel Maclise: a dark palette, dominated by driftwood (#817440).
The perceived brightness of "First Steps" by Daniel Maclise is bright. It can be matched to the light of the intended space.
The dominant color of "First Steps" by Daniel Maclise is driftwood (#817440).