Tipperary born Rose Barton, began a long relationship with the Royal Water Colour Society of Ireland in 1872 when she first exhibited with them, and later became a Committee member. Three years later she spent some time in Brussels, taking painting and drawing classes, and in 1878 she exhibited for the first time at the RHA. The following year she sat on the committee of the Irish Fine Art Society.
After a spell of studying in London under Paul Jacob Naftel (1817-91), her work was included in
the Royal Academy show in 1884. She continued to exhibit in London at venues such as the Japanese Gallery, The Dudley Gallery, Grosvenor Gallery and Clifford Gallery. In 1904 two of her works were included in Hugh Lane’s Irish Art exhibition at Guildhall in London, and three were shown at the RHA annual show. Barton’s watercolours, mainly executed in Dublin and London where she moved in her later life, are distinguished by an emphasis on the almost tangible atmospheric effects of weather conditions. Her favoured subjects were landscapes and street scenes, gardens and child portraits. She became known not only through these original works but also through her illustrated books of both cities.
Rose was a cousin of the artist and writer Edith Somerville and a lifelong friend of the artist Mildred Anne Butler.
Rose Barton's work was included in the summer exhibition 'Irish Women Artists: 1870-1970' (2014). Please click here to view the catalogue.
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