Mulready, WILLIAM, genre-painter, was born at Ennis, in Ireland, 1st April 1786. When a boy he went to London with his parents, and at the age of fifteen entered as a student in the Royal Academy. Having tried classical subjects and landscape, he soon found his true sphere in genre-painting—painting subjects such as 'A Roadside Inn,' 'Horses Baiting,' the 'Barber's Shop,' and 'Punch' (1812), 'Boys Fishing' (1813), 'Idle Boys' (1815). He was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy in November 1815, and an Academician in February 1816. He also worked indefatigably at portrait-painting and the illustration of children's books; designed the famous
'Mulready envelope' for Sir Rowland Hill; and was throughout conscientious, careful in drawing, and rich in colouring. 'The Truant' (1835), 'The Seven Ages' (1838), 'The Sonnet' (1839), 'First Love' (1840) are famous works of his middle period; and his illustrations to the Vicar of Wakefield are well known. His later works, 'Women Bathing' (1849), 'Blackheath Park' (1849), 'The Toy Seller' (1862), showed failing powers. He died in London, 7th July 1863. See Stephens, Memorials of Mulready ('Great Artists' series, 1890).