William Orpen

Read the full story: his life, the places he painted, and a collector's guide. Explore the William Orpen guide →

One of the most technically gifted Irish painters who ever lived.

William Orpen (1878–1931) painted Edwardian society at its most polished — then went to the Western Front and painted war at its most unsparing. He was in the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art before his thirteenth birthday, took the Slade composition prize at twenty, and taught Seán Keating, Margaret Clarke and Patrick Tuohy. His work is held by the Imperial War Museum, Tate, the National Gallery of Ireland and Manchester Art Gallery.

Browse the full collection of William Orpen art prints — Edwardian portraits, self-portraits, the Irish subject pictures and the First World War paintings — on archival 250gsm matte paper, framed or unframed, with free worldwide shipping.

Read the story: the Slade prodigy, the Dublin students, the Somme, and the Versailles canvas he painted out and rebuilt. William Orpen: the Irish painter who walked away from Ireland →

Part of our full Irish Art Prints collection — over 600 works by Ireland's greatest artists.

Digby Cave rocky coastal scene with a seated figure painted by William Orpen