Little information exists in relation to this painter, which is surprising when one notes the quantity of work which he exhibited at the RHA during his career. With the exception of four random years during the sixty year period in which he worked, (1864-1934), Grey showed an average of eight paintings annually – a total by the end of his life of almost 500 works, and was elected RHA in 1871. He lived all his life in the inner northside of Dublin city, yet the subject matter which he painted c
ould not be more entrenched in country life, particularly Scottish rural life. He mainly painted animals such as goats, highland cattle and sheep in a Scottish setting.
He was the son of the painter Charles Grey, and brother of painters Edwin Landseer, Gregor, James and Charles Malcolm Grey. During the early part of his career Alfred visited Scotland with his father and, was inspired, as were his brothers though not quite as prolifically, to uphold a family tradition which traded in Victorian values and sentiment, qualities which also infuse many of his Irish views. His style of painting demonstrates a strong debt to the quasi-heroic, highland landscapes of Edwin Landseer. At Queen Victoria’s request Alfred painted a number of her favourite views in the neighbourhood of Mar Lodge.
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