WILLIAM SADLER II (1782-1839)Bullock Castle, Dalkey, with Bartra Martello Tower in the distanceOil on panel, 19.5 x 26.5cm (7¾ x 10½'')Known particularly for his competent, atmospheric and topographically interesting views of the countryside around Dublin, Sadler remains an enigma in the history of 19th century Irish art. This is partially because his father, William (fl.1768-1788) and his own son, also William (b.1808) painted somewhat similar scenes in a vaguely similar style and can be confused. William Sadler II, however, stands out as being a better painter than either his father or his son. He is also credited as having taught painting and counted James Arthur O'Connor as one of his pupils. He is recorded as exhibiting, between 1808 and 1821, many paintings on his trademark mahogany panels. The Royal Hibernian Academy records four paintings by Sadler exhibited at the 1828, 1833 and 1836 annual exhibitions, giving his address as Buckingham Street and later at Merrion Avenue. In his 1913 Dictionary of Irish Artists, Walter Strickland notes however that he finally settled in Manders Building in Ranelagh where he died in December 1839. Sadler was greatly influenced by and did many copies of the Old Masters, particularly Dutch painters and this influence is seen in his landscape compositions with small figural groups. He also incorporated their technique of painting bright highlights to accentuate the almost three dimensional effect of his figures.