Painters of Ireland, c. 1660-1920

by Anne O. Crookshank, Desmond FitzGerald

This richly illustrated survey of the history of Irish painting encompasses the entire span from the middle ages to the mid-twentieth century. The book includes both well-known artists, Irish artists who worked abroad as well as in Ireland, and major foreign artists who came to Ireland and worked there for extended periods. Among the more than 350 works reproduced in full color are many paintings from notable private collections which have not been exhibited to the public. --abebooks.com for an edition apparently expanded to include work up to the 1940s. The book jacket thumbnail if from the later edition.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found a letter I wrote to my mom taped to the back of a print I inherited.

"May 22, 1984 -
I've been reading The Painters of Ireland and recognized the print you have with the young boy and girl with the big eyes. It's called

Novitiate Mendicants
by Richard Rothwell (1800-68).

...in character and style the epitome of the Romantic. His education at the Dublin society schools which he entered in 1814 led to the presentation of a silver palette in 1820 ... he painted landscapes ... developed a rich color sense ... "

There was a remark made at the time: an artist has come from Dublin who paints flesh as well as the old masters ... he painted numerous portraits which exhibit his "speaking eyes" looming darkly out of pale faces his children sparkle with bubbling humor. The "subject" pictures with which we are familiar are frequently expressions of his portrait style=works like his Novitiate Mendicants are sentimentalized figures of peasants. The original is at the Victoria and Albert Museum."

[David Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A valuable introduction, and while not comprehensive, a very useful catalogue. With capsule biographies, descriptions and many images (most B&W).