Portrait of Henry Grattan (1746-1820)

Henry Grattan, the great Irish parliamentary orator who championed Irish legislative independence and Catholic Emancipation, appears in this portrait from around 1810 at the National Gallery of Ireland. Grattan"s eloquence in the Irish Parliament—"Spirit of Swift! Spirit of Molyneux!"—made him the voice of Irish patriotism within the constitutional framework. Though his Parliament was abolished by the Act of Union in 1800, Grattan continued to fight for Catholic rights in the Westminster Parliament until his death in 1820.

Shee"s portrait of a fellow Irishman carries personal as well as professional significance, and the characterization of Grattan"s sharp, passionate features has genuine intensity. The palette is dramatic for Shee—perhaps reflecting the legendary fire of Grattan"s oratory—with strong contrasts between light and shadow on the face. The handling shows more engagement than some of Shee"s routine commissions, suggesting genuine admiration for the sitter.