H 165.1 cm x W 134.62 cm x D 10.16 cm
A 3/4 length portrait of Francis Cook Ireland seated in a wooden armchair with an ornately carved back. The figure sits with his left leg crossed over his right and he is angled towards the lower left corner of the picture plane, with his face turned almost directly towards the viewer, gazing over the viewer's left shoulder. He has short salt and pepper hair with a full beard and moustache, neatly trimmed; he has dark eyebrows and blue eyes. The subject wears grey trousers, a dark topcoat, a dark waistcoat with a gold watch chain with a jewelled fob, a white collared shirt and a grey stock tie. His elbows rest on the arms of the chair and his hands are resting on/near his lap. In the background on the left is a bookcase filled with books; on the right is a plain green wall. The painting is signed "A. ROCKWELL. COMPTON." in white paint in the lower right corner.
The painting is housed in an early 20th century gilt wood and plaster frame. Plain back edge; alternating quad gadroon and acanthus outer edge; plain scotia; acanthus, floral, and intermittent shield on sanded top edge; with plain banded corners; plain scotia, egg-and-dart, plain bevel, bead-course, plain bevel to sight edge.
Francis C. Ireland was born in Kingston, the sixth son of city treasurer William Ireland and Eliza Cook. In 1872 he became assistant-treasurer and took over as city treasurer upon his father’s death in 1879. Remaining city treasurer until his retirement, Ireland spent a total of 41 years in service to the City. Never marrying, he lived many years on Alice Street with his siblings.
