In the 1790s a young English artist decided to create a portrait of Dublin. James Malton’s timing was impeccable, as the second city of the British Empire was then among the most splendid in Europe, but Dublin went into a long decline after the Act of Union. Malton died in obscurity at the age of 38. Today we owe the very idea of Georgian Dublin to this remarkable artist. His work is admired by millions of people every year, yet little is known about Malton himself.

In this illustrated lecture, Trevor White explores the life and work of the artist who produced the bare bones of a great Dublin drawing room.