William Ashford P.R.H.A. (Birmingham 1746-1824 Dublin)


Views of Maynooth Castle the former signed and dated 'W. Ashford/1779' (lower left); and the latter signed and dated 'W. Ashford/1780' (lower left)a pair, oil on canvas61.1 x 83.1cm (24 1/16 x 32 11/16in). (2)
|ProvenanceCommissioned by William FitzGerald, 2nd Duke of Leinster, and thence by descent to the present ownerLiteratureNotes on the pictures & at Carton, Kilkea Castle, 13 Dominick Street, Dublin and 6 Carlton House Terrace, London, 1885, p. 31 (as in the passage by the main staircase)W.G. Strickland, A Dictionary of Irish Artists, Shannon, 1969, vol. I, p. 11A. Crookshank and The Knight of Glin, The Painters of Ireland c.1660-1920, London, 1979, p. 136It seems likely that William Ashford's first commission from the 2nd Duke of Leinster was to complete the set of six views in the Carton Demesne left unfinished by the death of Thomas Roberts in 1778. Ashford, in a remarkably short space of time, had advanced from being a slightly pedestrian flower painter in the manner of Monnoyer to becoming one of the most accomplished and sought-after view painters in Ireland, culminating in his election as the first President of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1823, the year before his death.This fine pair of views of Maynooth Castle, painted in the Anglo-Irish Romantic tradition, were commissioned two years after Ashford first met the 2nd Duke. They are both listed in the Carton inventory of 1885 (p. 31) as hanging in the passage by the principle staircase. Maynooth Castle was the family seat until its destruction. The original keep, which was constructed in circa 1203, was enlarged in the 15th century and became the centre of FitzGerald power until 1534, when 'Silken Thomas' (Offaly), the son of the 9th Earl of Kildare, led a rebellion to Dublin Castle, where he threw down the sword of state. A ten day siege of Maynooth by the English under William Skeffington ensued, during which much of the fabric of the building was destroyed by heavy siege ordnance and 'Silken Thomas' and his five uncles were captured. They were executed for treason at Tyburn in 1537.