Grace Harriet Sara Kirkwood (née Jameson; 28 September 1880 – 20 June 1953) was an Irish artist, known for her landscape and still life paintings. Kirkwood was born in

Sutton, Dublin Sutton ( ga, Cill Fhionntain – Fintan's cell or church) is a residential suburb on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. It occupies the tombolo which links Howth Head to the mainland, some of the lower slopes of Howth Hill, and a little of the ...

. Her parents were the chairman and managing director of John Jameson & Son Ltd, Andrew Jameson, and Grace Elizabeth Anna Maria (née Burke). She was the middle child of three daughters. Kirkwood studied under Mary Manning, going on to attend

Metropolitan School of Art The National College of Art and Design (NCAD) is Ireland's oldest art institution, offering the largest range of art and design degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level in the country. Originating as a drawing school in 1746, many of th ...

, Dublin from 1908 to 1909. On 4 March 1910, she married Major

Thomas William Kirkwood Thomas William Kirkwood, OBE (1884–1971) was a Scottish champion polo player. He competed in the 1924 International Polo Cup. Biography Kirkwood was born 17 February 1884, the younger of the two sons of Col. James Nicholson Sodon Kirkwood (1846 ...

. He was supportive of Kirkwood's artistic pursuits and encouraged her. They lived for a short period in Russia in 1913, where she took lessons in painting from Ilya Mashkov in Moscow. Upon their return to Dublin, she re-registered at the Metropolitan School of Art, and attended the Slade School of Fine Art, London from 1919 to 1920. Her family, the Jamesons, were good friends and patrons of the Yeats family. John Butler Yeats painted numerous portraits of the Jamesons and he encouraged her in her painting. Kirkwood continued the friendship with the Butlers, and invited a number of the most famous artists of the time to her house in Collinstown Park, Clondalkin. She was close friends with

Mainie Jellett Mary Harriet "Mainie" Jellett (29 April 1897, Dublin – 16 February 1944, Dublin) was an Irish painter whose ''Decoration'' (1923) was among the first abstract paintings shown in Ireland when it was exhibited at the Society of Dublin Painter ...

and

Evie Hone Eva Sydney Hone RHA (22 April 1894 – 13 March 1955), usually known as Evie, was an Irish painter and stained glass artist.Nicola Gordon Bowe (May 2009)Hone, Eva Sydney (1894–1955) ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', online editi ...

. Following their example, she went to Paris to study under

André Lhote André Lhote (5 July 1885 – 24 January 1962) was a French Cubist painter of figure subjects, portraits, landscapes and still life. He was also active and influential as a teacher and writer on art. Early life and education Lhote was born ...

. She was one of six artists who studied under Lhote who exhibited at the Contemporary Pictures Gallery at 133 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin. From 1922, Kirkwood was an active member of the

Society of Dublin Painters The Society of Dublin Painters or Dublin Painters Group was formed in Ireland in 1920 to promote Irish modern art. History The Society of Dublin Painters was founded in 1920 by Paul and Grace Henry, Mary Swanzy, Letitia Marion Hamilton, Jack B. Y ...

. The first pictures she exhibited with them were in 1930 with some landscapes at their gallery at 7 St Stephen's Green, Dublin. In 1930 she served as secretary, and in 1936 became president of the Society. In 1938,

Seán T. O'Kelly Seán Thomas O'Kelly ( ga, Seán Tomás Ó Ceallaigh; 25 August 1882 – 23 November 1966), originally John T. O'Kelly, was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as the second president of Ireland from June 1945 to June 1959. He also serve ...

opened a group show at the gallery praising the members for the form they provided and for their independence from the academic tradition. Edward McGuire was exhibited at this show, and he had taken up painting at Kirkwood's suggestion. Kirkwood served as the Society president until 1948. She was seen as a great supporter of artists, and collected Irish art from her contemporaries. She continued to exhibit with the Society until 1953, and was shown at the Irish Exhibition of Living Art regularly from 1943. In 1944 and 1945 she exhibited with the

Water Colour Society of Ireland Water Colour Society of Ireland (WCSI) is a watercolour society in Ireland, founded in 1870. The Society held its first exhibition in the Courthouse, Lismore, County Waterford in May 1871. History The ''Water Colour Society of Ireland (WCSI)'' w ...

. The

National Gallery of Ireland The National Gallery of Ireland ( ga, Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann) houses the national collection of Irish and European art. It is located in the centre of Dublin with one entrance on Merrion Square, beside Leinster House, and another on ...

holds two of her works: ''Still-life with fruit and flowers'' (1940) and a portrait of Dr George Furlong. In 1966, her husband donated a watercolour to Trinity College Dublin. Kirkwood died at her home in Clondalkin on 20 June 1953, with her funeral taking place at Ardcarne church, Boyle, County Roscommon.

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