Irish Art

Irish ArtIrish Art

Court cairnsCourt cairns: consist of a stone forecourt area, with chambers used for burials, : consist of a stone forecourt area, with chambers used for burials, covered with a long cairn. They were built from c4000 BC and are found covered with a long cairn. They were built from c4000 BC and are found throughout Ireland.throughout Ireland.

Pre-Christian Ireland Pre-Christian Ireland 7000 –7000 –

2000 B.C2000 B.C..

DolmenDolmen

The word Dolmen means stone table in Breton. Most were built around 2000 The word Dolmen means stone table in Breton. Most were built around 2000 BC along Ireland's East Coast.BC along Ireland's East Coast.

The most obvious of early Stone Age tombs are dolmen.A large slab top three The most obvious of early Stone Age tombs are dolmen.A large slab top three or more large stones. They can weigh up to 100 tons. It was an enormous or more large stones. They can weigh up to 100 tons. It was an enormous feat feat of engineering. There are more than 1400 in Ireland.of engineering. There are more than 1400 in Ireland.

They are mentioned in Irish legends too. Diarmuid and Gráinne allegedly They are mentioned in Irish legends too. Diarmuid and Gráinne allegedly slept under one when they eloped.slept under one when they eloped.

NewgrangeNewgrange

Newgrange, built around 3,200 BC and recently restored, is a Newgrange, built around 3,200 BC and recently restored, is a great circular mound of earth and stone 250 feet in diameter great circular mound of earth and stone 250 feet in diameter encircled by a ring of standing stones. The interior is solid encircled by a ring of standing stones. The interior is solid except for a single stone-lined and -capped passage 62 feet long except for a single stone-lined and -capped passage 62 feet long and 3 feet wide which terminates close to the centre of the and 3 feet wide which terminates close to the centre of the mound in main chamber with a corbelled vault 20 feet high and mound in main chamber with a corbelled vault 20 feet high and three recessed chambers.three recessed chambers.

  The entrance, in front of which is a massive curbstone (10 feet long, The entrance, in front of which is a massive curbstone (10 feet long, 4 feet high) carved with spirals and lozenges, incoporates a roof box 4 feet high) carved with spirals and lozenges, incoporates a roof box which allows the sun, at sunrise on the morning of the winter which allows the sun, at sunrise on the morning of the winter solstice on December 21, to penetrate the full length of the interior solstice on December 21, to penetrate the full length of the interior passage all the way to the main chamber. A similar carefully passage all the way to the main chamber. A similar carefully calculated phenomenon is also found at calculated phenomenon is also found at Abu Simbel in Egypt. in Egypt.

Bronze Age Bronze Age 2000 – 500 B.C.2000 – 500 B.C.

Iron Age 500B.C – A.D. 400

Broighter Collar

Broighter Boat

Early Christian Period Early Christian Period 55thth & 6 & 6thth CenturiesCenturies

Skellig

Kerry Coast

Gallarus Oratory Co. Kerry

Carandonagh Cross Co. Donegal

Stone CarvingStone Carving

Fahan Mura Slab

High Christian Period High Christian Period 77thth & 8 & 8thth

CenturyCentury

North Cross Aheny Cross of Moone Co. Kildare

Ardagh Chalice

Tara Brooch

Viking Invasions Viking Invasions 99thth & 10 & 10thth Centuries Centuries

Round TowerRound Tower

Muirdeach’s CrossMonasterboice

The finest of the high crosses.

Muirdeach’s CrossMonasterboice

The finest of the high crosses.

Manuscripts

The Book of Kells

Manuscripts

The Book of Kells

The Medieval period The Medieval period 1111thth & 12 & 12thth

CenturiesCenturies

Cross of CongCross of Cong

Eighteenth Century Irish Georgian Period

James Barry Neoclassical Painter 1741-1806

Walter Osbourne 1859 - 1903

Influenced by

French

Plein-air Painting

William Leech 1881-1968

Paul Henry 1876-1958Paul Henry 1876-1958

Jack Butler Yates 1871-1957

Son of John Butler Yates and brother of poet W.B.Yeats

Jack Butler Yates 1871-1957

Son of John Butler Yates and brother of poet W.B.Yeats

Louis Le BrocquyLouis Le Brocquy