Lot 112: James Brenan, RHA (1837-1907) THE PATH TO THE BURN, 1868 signed in monogram and dated lower right oil on canvas 51 by 76cm., 20 by 30in.

James Brenan, RHA (1837-1907) THE PATH TO THE BURN, 1868 signed in monogram and dated lower right oil on canvas 51 by 76cm., 20 by 30in. Provenance: Exhibited: RHA, Dublin, 1868, catalogue no. 174 (œ15-0-0 Literature: Notes:One of the most influential and respected painters of his day, James Brenan was born in Dublin and educated variously at the School of Art in Leinster House, the RHA School, the RDS Drawing School and in the studios of Owen Jones and Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt in London. He trained to be an art teacher and at the age of 20 became an assistant master at the Birmingham School of Art. After three years of further study and occasional teaching, he was appointed Head Master of the Cork School of Art - a position he held from 1860 to 1889. During his time there, he instituted lace-making classes throughout numerous convents in Co. Cork and was instrumental in arranging the Gibson Bequest, one of the most important acquisition funds for the Crawford Gallery. In 1889 he was made Head Master of the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art where one of his pupils was Sir William Orpen. Brenan lived the rest of his days in Rathmines, Dublin, exhibiting at the RHA up until his death.