JOHN COMERFORD (IRISH c. 1770-1832) Portrait miniature of a Gentleman wearing a dark brown coat, white waistcoat and tied cravat, painted circa 1815 Watercolour on ivory Gilt-metal mount, with the original red leather case Oval, 70mm (2 3/4in) high Exhibited: Comerford Collection at the Irish Architectural Archives, Dublin, 2009 Literature: The Comerford Collection: Portrait Miniatures, (privately published, Dublin, 2009) pp 9, 40 (#153); Lionel Henry Cust, "Comerford, John", in Leslie Stephen, Dictionary of National Biography (1887) Comerford was born at Kilkenny. He gained some knowledge of art from copying the pictures in the Collection of the Marquis of Ormonde. He exhibited in London at the Royal Academy in 1804 and 1809. He was very successful and gained a high reputation as a miniature painter in Dublin. He had a large and lucrative output, particularly excelling in male portraits - as can be seen in this example - which were carefully finished, well expressed and quiet in colour.