Taylor Gallery, London :
"The son of Irish immigrants, Shannon was born in Auburn, New York. In 1870 he moved with his family to Saint Catherine's, Ontario where he displayed early artistic talent so much so that his father sent him to study art at the South Kensington school in London (now the Royal College of Art). There at the age of 18 he won the gold medal in the annual competition of all the art schools in the United Kingdom. He was immediately commissioned by Queen Victoria to paint the portraits of the Hon. Horatio Stopford and Mrs Henry Bourke (both now in the Royal Collection), which were exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1881 and 1882 respectively. "(с)
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| Sir James Jebusa Shannon |
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Lorna and Dorothy Bell, Daughters of W. Heward Bell, Esq. |
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Portrait of Violet, Duchess of Rutland-1890 |
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Violet, Duchess of Rutland |
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Portrait Of A Lady -1894 |
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Portrait of Diana MacDonald-1894 |
National Portrait Gallery, London, UK -5 portraits
Based on this early success he decided to stay in London where he became a noted society portrait artist. By 1892 he was so successful that he was able to purchase a substantial studio in Holland Park Road where on and off he spent the rest of his life. He was elected an associate of the London Academy of Arts in 1897.
In 1904 he went with his wife and daughter Kitty for the first of three extended stays in America. There he was very prolific and had three one-man exhibitions at M Knoedler and Co in New York in 1905, 1906 and 1907.
He was President of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters in 1910 and in 1922 renounced his U.S. citizenship in order to accept the Knighthood that was given him in recognition of his talents as a portrait artist.
He died in 1923 at the age of 61. His work is represented in many major museums including the Metropolitan in New York.[/cut]
Seeking Beauty:elle_belle10
