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HENRY O'NEIL, A.R.A.

HENRY O'NEIL was born of English parents in St. Petersburg, on January 7th, 1817. When three years old, he was brought to England, where he has since chiefly resided. In 1837 he entered the Royal Academy as a student, and obtained several of the Academy medals. In the year 1840 he exhibited in the Academy his first picture, and has continued to exhibit there annually without one single intermission.

The first work by Mr. O'Neil which made an impression upon the public mind was 'Jephthah's Daughter,' exhibited in 1843, and subsequently engraved for the Art Union of London.

In 1844, Mr. O'Neil went to Italy, where he remained two years, studying art, in theory and practice, in the galleries and studios of Rome and Florence. In 1860, he was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy.

Amongst the pictures which Mr. O'Neil has annually exhibited, with more or less success, are:-In 1849, 'Mozart's Last Moments' (engraved). In 1850, Esther's Emotion.' In 1851, 'The Scribes reading the Chronicles to King Ahasuerus.' In 1852, 'Ophelia (mad) Presenting Daisies to Laertes.' In 1853, 'Queen Catherine's Dream.' In 1854, 'Marguerite and Faust.' In 1855, 'The Return of the Wanderer' (engraved). In 1856, Scene from "6 As you Like it." In 1857, ' A Picnic in Windsor Forest.' In 1858, Eastward, ho! Departure of Soldiers on board a Transport for India at the time of the Mutiny;' and, in the following year, a companion picture, entitled, Home again!' (these two works have acquired great popularity from the published engravings of them). In 1860, The Volunteers;' A Seaman on board a

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Wrecked Ship about to swim to shore with a rope.' In 1861, 'Departure of an Emigrant Vessel from Blackwall.' In 1862, 'Mary Stuart leaving France.' In 1863, 'Stradella.' In 1864, 'The Landing of the Princess Alexandra at Gravesend.' In 1865, 'The Lesson,' and 'Canute listening to the Monks singing the Vespers at Ely.'

In July, 1865, Mr. O'Neil accompanied the 'Great Eastern' on her voyage to lay the cable of the Atlantic telegraph, hoping to find on board a subject suitable for a picture: the unfortunate breaking of the cable, however, prevented the accomplishment of the artist's intention.

On his return to England after the failure of the expedition, Mr. O'Neil travelled to Italy, there to refresh his memory of Italian art-treasures by revisiting the picture-galleries. He returned to England via Madrid, and delivered a series of lectures. on painting at the Royal Academy, during the following winter. In 1866, Mr. O'Neil exhibited at the Royal Academy only two pictures: The Last Moments of Raffaelle,' and 'Tidings of the War.' These were followed, in 1867, by An Incident in Luther's Monastic Life at Erfurt,' and 'Titian's Evening Study.' Mr. O'Neil has also painted some very striking portraits.

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