MacManus, Henry (c.1810–78), artist, was born probably in Monaghan. According to his close friend Charles Gavan Duffy (qv), he was left orphaned after his father, a catholic soldier, died with his regiment, and he was reared as a protestant in the soldiers' hospital in Phoenix Park, Dublin. In 1835 he was in Monaghan as a friend of the young Duffy, and trying to make a living as an artist. He sent his first contribution to the RHA in 1835, and the following year became a member of the new Belfast Association of Artists, where he exhibited four portraits. After a brief period in Dublin, he removed in 1837 to London and remained there until 1844; his aim was to become the interpreter of Irish life to England and he exhibited a number of scenes of Irish peasantry at the RA, including ‘May-day at Finglas, Co. Dublin’ (1839) and ‘An Irish market-day, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan’ (1841). He wryly observed that as his work was ‘true and natural’ and lacked ‘a reaping hook, a shillelagh . . . and perhaps a peck of potatoes for local colour’ (Duffy, 58), it was entirely misunderstood, and had no success. Sixteen of his drawings were, however, used to illustrate Traits and stories of the Irish peasantry by William Carleton (qv). While in London, he contributed two innocuous articles to the Nation. He was an O'Connellite and in August 1843 returned from London to present, with the sculptor John Hogan (qv), a ‘crown’ to Daniel O'Connell (qv) at the monster meeting at Mullaghmast. This ‘crown’, a green velvet cap edged with gold, was intended to conform with the Gaelic symbol of kingship, although it was the subject of much mockery by O'Connell's opponents.
In 1845 MacManus was appointed head master of the Glasgow school of design and remained there until 1849, when, on the schools of the Royal Dublin Society being converted into a school of design under the Board of Trade, he was made headmaster and remained in this position until 1863. His tenure was largely successful; he was an inspiring teacher and established evening classes and day classes for women; organised the RDS exhibitions of arts and industries; and also superintended a new women's industrial school at Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, which specialised in making Valenciennes lace. However, after the Department of Science and Art reduced the school's staff in 1854 he complained bitterly that lack of masters was undermining the school's reputation and making him overwork. The department, on its side, felt academic standards were declining due to MacManus's ill-health, and it put pressure on the RDS to remove him. After being threatened with dismissal unless he resigned, he circulated a letter in the press (26 June 1862) which rallied ex-students to his cause. The RDS dismissed him for improper conduct (11 July 1862) and then reinstated him after an apology, but he was forced to retire on 30 September 1863 with the title of honorary professor of fine arts.
MacManus exhibited frequently at the RHA, to which he was elected as associate in 1835 and full member in 1858, and was professor of drawing there (1873–8). He exhibited two plaster sculptures in 1853; his later works were mostly landscapes. Strickland (qv) characterises them as ‘poor in colour, puerile and even ludicrous’ (Strickland, 80) but allows that the early works had merit. MacManus died at his residence, 2 Leinster Terrace, Dalkey, on 22 March 1878, and was buried at Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow.