Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Francis place

Name Class Date

Daniel Maclise, Francis place. Public domain.

The facts

Artist
Daniel Maclise artsdot.com/en/artists/daniel-maclise/
Artist’s dates
1806 – 1870

In context

Francis place — Daniel Maclise

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1800
  2. 1810
  3. 1820
  4. 1830
  5. 1840
  6. 1850
  7. 1860
  8. 1870

Shaded: the lifetime of Daniel Maclise (1806–1870)

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

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-francis-place-9HTN26-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Driftwood #c8a865

    Catalogued palette

    • #C8A865
    • #937F4D
    • #635632
    • #322E1B
    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Driftwood
    Intensity
    Vivid How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Balanced How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Brilliant How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Clear Color Presence How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Daniel Maclise

    Born in Cork, Ireland

    Early Life and Education

    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.

    Career and Major Works

    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.

    Artistic Style and Influences

    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.

    Later Life and Legacy

    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.

    Historical Significance

    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.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Francis place

    artsdot.com/en/art/download/daniel-maclise-francis-place-9HTN26-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Maclise, Daniel. Francis place. n.d., https://artsdot.com/en/art/daniel-maclise-francis-place-9HTN26-en/
    APA
    Maclise, Daniel (n.d.). Francis place [Painting]. https://artsdot.com/en/art/daniel-maclise-francis-place-9HTN26-en/
    Chicago
    Daniel Maclise. Francis place. n.d. https://artsdot.com/en/art/daniel-maclise-francis-place-9HTN26-en/
    Harvard
    Maclise, Daniel (n.d.) Francis place. Available at: https://artsdot.com/en/art/daniel-maclise-francis-place-9HTN26-en/

    Look closely

    Francis place — Daniel Maclise

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Look back at The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife, earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    4. What might the artist have wanted you to feel?
    5. If you could ask the artist one question about this work, what would it be?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.