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Charles Reuben Ryley (also Riley) was born around 1752 in London, the son of a trooper in the horse-guards. He was raised as a strict Methodist and from a young boy had a weak constitution as well as being ‘deformed in figure’ (Lionel Henry Crust, Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 50). In his early years he studied engraving, receiving a premium in 1767 from the Royal Society of Arts. After becoming interested in painting, he was enrolled as a student at the Royal Academy from 14 February 1769 and awarded a silver medal the following year for one of his works. Here he studied under John Hamilton Mortimer RA, who would have a lasting impact on his style of painting.
In 1775 Charles Reuben Ryley was employed as a decorative painter by the 3rd Duke of Richmond at Goodwood House, Sussex.
The Duke’s sister Lady Louisa Conolly subsequently brought him over to Ireland to decorate the Long Gallery at Castledown, Kildare (Dictionary of Irish Architects, 1720-1940). He painted a number of murals and finished the project in the Spring of 1777, travelling back to London to continue his studies at the Royal Academy.
In 1778 he won a gold medal for his artwork that would be shown at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition the following year, under the title ‘Orestes on the point of being sacrificed to Diana, discovers the priestess to be his sister Iphigenia’ (Royal Academy Summer Exhibition brochure 1779, page 21). Although his bad health gradually prevented him from painting, he continued to exhibit his works in the annual show each year until his death. He spent much of his life professionally as a teacher and bookseller.
Charles Reuben Ryley died on 13 October 1798 at his house in Marylebone, London. A number of his engravings exist in the Theatre and Performance collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum as well as the British Museum, London.
