The Irresistible Frank O’Meara (1853-1888) – an Irish artist in France. An illustrated talk by Mary Stratton Ryan
June 8 @ 3.00pm - 4.00pm
€10
The Irresistible Frank O’Meara (1853-1888) – an Irish artist in France
An illustrated talk by Mary Stratton Ryan
Carlow-born painter Frank O’Meara spent most of his short life in France. Trained in Paris, his painting career spanned just twelve years before his untimely death at the age of 35. However, during this period he became a central figure in the artists’ colony of Grez-sur-Loing, 70 km south of Paris. He was a founder of the Grez school of painting, and he taught and encouraged other artists in the style of painting that he had skilfully developed. Although his life was short, and in the end he struggled with ill-health, he produced a series of wonderful paintings which combine plein-air naturalism with a symbolist mood, and he reached a high degree of excellence in his work.
During his lifetime he exhibited in Dublin, Glasgow, Liverpool and Paris. His work may be viewed in Dublin’s Hugh Lane Gallery – which has six fine paintings – and at the Ulster Museum. His drawings can be found in the National Gallery of Ireland and in the Carlow Art Collection. Most of his other work is held in private collections in Ireland and abroad.
Mary Stratton Ryan’s new book on Frank O’Meara, published by Gandon Editions in April 2024, brings together a richly illustrated biography of the artist, from his childhood in Carlow to his life in France. All of his major works are illustrated in full-page plates, and all of his known works are both illustrated and documented in a detailed catalogue raisonné. Altogether, with its captivating text and 170 illustrations, this is a fine record of an important Irish artist.
Mary Stratton Ryan was born in Dublin Street, Carlow. She is an artist and art historian, a graduate of the National College of Art & Design, and has published widely on Irish art. She is a contributor to Art and Architecture of Ireland Volume II: Painting 1600-1900 (Yale University Press / RIA, 2015). Articles by her may be found in the Irish Arts Review, History Ireland, and in Irish history journals including Carloviana (Carlow), the Journal of the Galway A.H.S., Decies Waterford Journal, Tuam Journal, JOTS (Galway), as well as The Nation (Mallow), Journal of the Cork Historical & Archaeological Society, and in Swift Studies, the annual of the Ehrenpreis Centre for Swift Studies, Munster.
Ticket €10, including booking fee, from Eventbrite
This talk is presented by the OPW as part of the 2024 cultural programme at Farmleigh House.