John Butler Yeats

Born in County Down on 16 March 1839, John Butler Yeats first studied law and was called to the bar, but he soon turned instead to art. He became known as a portrait painter and art critic, building a reputation for thoughtful, searching studies of the people around him.

He is often remembered as the father of W. B. Yeats and painter Jack B. Yeats, but his own career stands on its own. His work is closely connected with Irish cultural life, and collections such as the National Gallery of Ireland preserve a number of his portraits and drawings.

In later life he moved to New York, where he continued writing letters and reflecting on art, literature, and politics. He died there on 3 February 1922, leaving behind not only paintings but also a vivid record of an independent, curious mind.