Lot 14: John Keyse Sherwin 1751-1790 , The installation banquet of the Knights of St Patrick in the Great Hall, Dublin Castle, 17th March 1783

engraving published by R.Wilkinson, London, 17th March 1803

image: 56 by 78cm., 22 by 30¾in.

Adrian le Harviel (Ed.), National Gallery of Ireland: Illustrated Summary of Prints and Sculpture
, 1988, p.475

This finely printed engraving shows the inaugural banquet given to the newly created Knights of the Order of St Patrick by the first Grand Master, George, Marquis of Buckingham in 1783. The order had been created that year, being the Irish equivalent of the English and Scottish orders of chivalry dedicated to St George and The Thistle respectively. The original fifteen Knights are depicted in this print. James Sherwin painted the subject later in the decade but this picture remained unfinished on his death and is now lost. The engraving published by Robert Wilkinson was produced shortly thereafter. A number of engravers seems to have been involved including Francesco Bartolozzi, R.A.