Shee, Sir Martin Archer

1769–1850, British portrait painter and writer, b. Dublin; pupil of Sir Joshua Reynolds. He attained popularity in court and theatrical circles and executed many royal commissions. Among his portraits are those of Daniel O'Connell and William Archer Shee (Metropolitan Mus.) and the dramatist Thomas Morton (Tate Gall., London). He wrote Rhymes on Art (1805); a tragedy, Alasco (1824); and a novel, Old Court (1829). Shee was president of the Royal Academy from 1830 until his death.