Born in Bristol, England, James Francis Danby was the eldest son of Francis Danby (1793-1861), RA, who was from Killinick, Co. Wexford. J.F. Danby was a regular contributor to the Royal Acdemy exhibitions and alone perhaps of all Francis Danby's many children remained in fairly close contact with his father. His dramatic scenes, especially sunsets shows the strong influence of the work of the artist's father.

James Francis exhibited at the Royal Academy of London* from 1842 to his death, and also occasionally at the Royal Hibernian Academy*. He lived in London but apparently visited Ireland frequently as several of his paintings are of Irish landscapes....