Sir John Lavery, born in Belfast, Ireland, was an Irish painter who is best known for his portraits and wartime depictions. He was a member of the Newlyn School, a group of British artists who were inspired by the Impressionists.
Lavery was born into a working-class family and began working as a sign painter as a teenager. He later studied at the Belfast School of Art and the Royal Academy in London. After traveling to France and Italy, he settled in Glasgow, Scotland, where he became a leading member of the Glasgow School of Painters.
Lavery's portraits are characterized by their loose brushwork and vibrant colors. He often painted his sitters in informal settings, such as their homes or gardens. His wartime paintings depict the horrors of war in a realistic and unflinching manner.
Lavery was knighted in 1918 and made a member of the Royal Academy in 1920. He died in Kilmaganny, Ireland, in 1941.
