JOHN COMERFORD (IRISH 1773-1832) Portrait miniature of Edward Smyth (1749-1812), architect, circa 1800 seated at his desk holding a pair of callipers Signed Comerfod, lower right corner and indistinctly inscribe in the lower left hand corner on the obverse Watercolour on ivory Gilt-brass frame with running husk and berry decoration Rectangular 115mm (4 1/2 in) high Provenance: Mme Hilde Frank, Liepzig Literature: WG Strickland, A dictionary of Irish Artists, vol 1 (1913), pp 196-197, 201; Schidlof, Leo R. (1964), The miniature in Europe, 4 vols. Graz (austria), vo. I, p.158, vol. II pp. 934, illustrated in vol. III plate 131, no.242; Crookshank, Anne (1966) Irish Sculptors from 1750-1860, Apollo, vol. LXXXIV, no. 56, (Oct) A drawing of Smyth by Comerford was engraved in stipple by Henry Hoppner Meyer (1783-1847), the head on Woodhouse's medal to Smyth was taken from this drawing by Comerford. Smyth worked with the architect James Gandon on most of his major projects, including the Four Courts, the House of Lords and the King's Inns in Dublin, and was also employed by the architect Francis Johnson, carving the heads on the exterior of Johnson's Chapel Royal in Dublin Castle until his death in 1812. Smyth was the first Master of the Dublin Society School of Modelling and Sculpture. Comerford was a sociable and outgoing person, and he numbered among his friends many contemporary, distinguished artists including: professor Thomas James Mulvany (1779-1845), who was influential in obtaining the charter for the Royal Hibernian Academy and became one of the first academicians; the Italian landscape artist Gaspare Gabrielli, who worked in Ireland; Vincent Waldre (1742-1814), also an Italian landscape artist; James Gandon (1742-1823), the leading architect of the day in Dublin; the sculptor Smyth (1749 -1812); the first President of the Royal Hibernian Academy, William Ashford (1746-1824); and the Waterford-born landscape artist, Thomas Sautelle Roberts (1760-1826).