The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-07-23
IRISH PAINTERS
Who They Are and Something
About Their Work.
Ireland at One Time a Leader
in Art.

Who and where are the painters of
Ireland? Most people, although con-
versant with the fine arts, would find
the question difficult to answer, says
the New York Sun. If the query con.
cerned the sister art of poetry, reply
would be easy, for the voices of the
Celtic Renascence are heard through
out the world. They arise in the
homeland, they come from Erin, and
throughout the world they stir the
hearts of her children and command
the admiration Of the cultured peo-
pies. But where are Ireland's paint
ers?
Once upon time Ireland was
leader in the arts. It was not alone
the magic of her singers, but the
faith and genius of those who built
her churches and wrought splendid
metal shrines to be placed therein; the
fertile brains and cunning fingers of
her designers; the dainty handiwork
of those who set out ancient lore or
snowy vellum, amid regal blazoning
of crimson, gold and azure. In these
arts Ireland at one time excelled the
whole of western Europe.
Now, it is from illumination or de-
sign that painting naturally develops;
and these arts were moving toward
their perfect form when, in the
twelfth century, to bring and leave a
legacy of unrest, came the Anglo
Norman invasion. The arts need
peace and settled life Ere one cen
fury of that unreSt-which endures
till this very day-had gone by, the
beautiful arts Of Ireland had withered
away. The development of great
and ancient tradition was checked,
and Irish painting, such as it is, has
pcrforce grown up as an offshoot of
the schools of other nations. The
Irish painters are scattered over the
face Of the earth. You often do not
they belong to Ireland. They have no
centre, no rallying point, no common
tradition.
When there was question of the
present exposition at st. Louis, certain
Irishmen thought that this would be
favorable occasion on which to
gather together and show, as part of
the Irish section, collection of works
by Irish painters, past and present.
They We're gathered together, but for
various reasons never sent. However,
it was not desirable that the collection
should be dispersed without having
| been shown to the public, and it so
| happened that the Guildhal art gall
| lery, belonging to the Corporation Of
London, was vacant. The vice-presi-
dent of the board of agriculture and
technical education in Ireland appeal
ed to the lord mayor of London; and
that is how the Irish pictures, origin.
ally intended for st. Louis, found their
way to the Guildhall in london. Fur
ther examples were contributed by
various owners, and the immediate re-
suit is a highly interesting exhibition.
J What may ultimately result from
this exhibition is a matter which, to
all Irishmen, should seem important.
No one who sees these pictures could
well deny the artistic capacity Of the
Irish race. And from what has just
been stated it will be evident that
they have been produced under condi-
lions which, though possibly favorable
to the individual painter, We're not SO
to the development of national
school Of painting. In the work of all
original Irish writer's of to-day some
thing of common race instinct, COM
mon traditions, common aims, is APP.
parent; and the organizers of this ex-
hibition, prominent among whom is
Hugh p. Lane, are Of the opinion that
a distinct school of painting might
easily be developed
If this is to be brought about it is
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