THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY 119 



George Petrie took a first-class premium for a group 

 of figures in the year 1805, and a couple of years after 

 this, while still a student, he asked that a landscape 

 painted by him should be hung in the Society's ex- 

 hibition room. The former is the first mention in the 

 minutes of this distinguished artist, archaeologist, and 

 man of letters. George, son of James Petrie, artist, 

 was born in Dublin in 1789. He painted landscapes in 

 Kerry, Wicklow, and other parts of Ireland, and illus- 

 trated Cromwell's Excursions in Ireland. In addition to 

 his artistic talent, Petrie was a cultivated man of letters, 

 learned in Irish antiquities and ecclesiastical architec- 

 ture, and a musician. From 1833 t0 ^46, ne was 

 employed on the Ordnance Survey of Ireland. His 

 Essay on the History and Antiquities of Tara Hill 

 gained him the gold medal of the Royal Irish 

 Academy, which also bestowed a similar distinction 

 on him for his Essay on the Origin and Uses of the 

 Round Towers of Ireland, which was published in 1845 

 as the Ecclesiastical Architecture of Ireland. Petrie's 

 Ancient Music of Ireland appeared in 1855. This 

 talented man died in 1866, and a very charming and 

 appreciative memoir of him was written by his friend, 

 Dr. William Stokes, which contains a list of works 

 illustrated by Petrie. 



The Beggar Woman and Child, by George Gratton, 

 who was educated in the schools, was purchased in 

 1807, for 100 guineas, in recognition of the artist's 

 distinguished merit, and to enable him to go to London. 

 He was to have the picture framed, and had per- 

 mission to have it exhibited in London. This picture 

 now hangs on the wall near the door of the conver- 

 sation-room, at the foot of the staircase in Leinster 

 House. 



Martin Cregan obtained a medal for drawing from 



