Lot 68: John Edmund Halpin (Irish, b.1764)

A Gentleman, wearing buttoned black coat, frilled white chemise and tied cravat, his hair worn en queue
signed on obverse with initials and dated I.E.H./ 1780, gold frame with bright-cut border, the reverse with blue glass border around empty aperture
Oval, 61mm. (2 3/8ins.) high

Halpin was born in Dublin. He was studied under his father Patrick Halpin, F. R. West and J. J. Barralet. He first exhibited in Dublin in 1780 and then moved to London with ambitions of becoming an actor. When this failed, he returned to Dublin where he became a successful miniaturist. He later returned to London where he continued to paint miniatures.