Lavery, John, 1856–1941

Sir John Lavery was an Irish artist, the son of an impoverished publican who rose to prominence as a painter of society portraits.

Influenced by his studies in Glasgow, London and Paris, and later by his friendship with James Abbott McNeill Whistler and frequent visits to Morocco, he is also known for his landscapes and work as an official artist in the First World War.

The sketch-like quality and emphasized brushstrokes of his painting style are particularly distinctive.