Rare portrait of Henry Grattan as a young man

A rediscovered portrait of Henry Grattan, dating from about 1775, is the only known portrait of the famous parliamentarian as a young man. It will be auctioned on Wednesday, September 25th, by Sheppard's in its "Legacy of the Big House" sale, with an estimate of €5,000-€8,000.

The painting will go on view at the Durrow saleroom next weekend.

Until now, the only known paintings of Grattan, in the National Gallery of Ireland and the National Portrait Gallery in London, show him in later life when he was at the height of his fame.

The artist was James Petrie and the portrait, in a contemporary carved wood frame, was probably commissioned when Grattan was elected to the Irish parliament.