Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kearney, William Henry

by Lionel Henry Cust

KEARNEY, WILLIAM HENRY (1800–1858), water-colour painter, born in 1800, was one of the foundation members in 1831, and subsequently a vice-president of the Institute of Painters in Water-colours. He exhibited at their first exhibition in 1834. He had previously been an exhibitor at the Royal Academy, commencing in 1823. Kearney worked in the early pure manner of water-colour painting, and his works have been highly valued. There are two fair examples, views in Wales, in the print room at the British Museum. Among his works were ‘Love's Young Dream,’ ‘Ruins of the Sally-port, Framlingham’ (now in the National Gallery of Ireland), ‘The Courtship of Quintin Matsys,’ &c. Kearney died in Holborn, London, on 25 June 1858, aged 57.

[Bryan's Dict. of Painters, ed. Graves; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Graves's Dict. of Artists, 1760–1880; Gent. Mag. 3rd ser. v. (1858) 203.]

L. C.