Richard Rothwell (painter)

Richard Rothwell (1800 – 1868) was an Irish portrait and genre painter.

Born in Athlone, County Westmeath, Rothwell studied at the Dublin Society's Schools, where he won several medals. He initially found success as a portrait painter in Dublin, establishing a strong reputation for his likenesses.

In 1831, he moved to London, where he continued his career, exhibiting at the Royal Academy, the British Institution, and the Suffolk Street Gallery. While in London, he was influenced by the works of Sir Thomas Lawrence, whose style his portraits often emulated.

Rothwell traveled to Italy in the 1830s, spending a considerable amount of time in Rome. This experience further broadened his artistic horizons, and he began to incorporate Italianate themes and subject matter into his work.

Throughout his career, Rothwell painted portraits of many notable figures, though identifying a comprehensive list of every sitter is challenging due to the passage of time and dispersal of artworks. He also produced genre paintings, often depicting scenes of everyday life.

Rothwell's career was marked by both success and periods of difficulty. He had aspirations to succeed Sir David Wilkie as painter-in-ordinary to the Queen, but this ambition was not realized.

He died in Rome in 1868. His works are held in various public and private collections, including the National Gallery of Ireland.