Lilian Davidson ARHA (26 January 1879 – 29 March 1954) was an Irish landscape and portrait artist, teacher and writer.
Early life and education
Lilian Lucy Davidson was born at Castle Terrace, Bray, County Wicklow, on 26 January 1879. She was the sixth of ten children of clerk of petty session, Edward Ellice Davidson, and Lucy Rising Davidson (née Doe). Her mother died in 1888, and it is presumed that Davidson received a private education but as the family were not affluent, the details are unclear. She went on to attend the
Dublin 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 ...
(DMSA) from 1895 to 1905. Whilst at the DMSA, Davidson won prizes in 1895 and 1896, and was awarded a scholarship and free studentship at the
Royal Dublin Society
The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) ( ga, Cumann Ríoga Bhaile Átha Cliath) is an Irish philanthropic organisation and members club which was founded as the 'Dublin Society' on 25 June 1731 with the aim to see Ireland thrive culturally and economi ...
in 1897, the year her father died. She completed her studies in 1905. In the early 1910s, Davidson was living in Rathmines, and spent some time in England and Wales.
Artistic career
Davidson was commissioned by Switzer's department store on Grafton Street to draw costumes in 1899. In 1909, her painting ''After rain'' was exhibited by the Dublin Sketching Club, with Davison continuing to show work there until 1920. She exhibited ''The bonfire'' 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 ...
in 1912, continuing to exhibit with them until 1954, and became a committee member in 1934. In 1914, she was one of the artists included in a sale of paintings to aid Belgian refugees. She was first exhibited at the
Royal Hibernian Academy
The Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) is an artist-based and artist-oriented institution in Ireland, founded in Dublin in 1823. Like many other Irish institutions, such as the RIA, the academy retained the word "Royal" after most of Ireland became in ...
(RHA) in 1914, with ''The student''. Her painting exhibited by the RHA in 1916, ''The harbour, St Ives'', demonstrates an influence from
Stanhope Forbes
Stanhope Alexander Forbes (18 November 1857 – 2 March 1947) was a British artist and a founding member of the influential Newlyn school of painters. He was often called 'the father of the Newlyn School'.Newlyn school, with a bright palette and contrasting illumination, which became characteristic of her work. Davidson illustrated C. H. Bretherton's collection of humorous poems and recollections about
London Zoo
London Zoo, also known as ZSL London Zoo or London Zoological Gardens is the world's oldest scientific zoo. It was opened in London on 27 April 1828, and was originally intended to be used as a collection for science, scientific study. In 1831 o ...
, ''A zoovenir'' (1919).
Davidson held a joint exhibition 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 ...
in 1920, at Mill's Hall, Merrion Row, Dublin. Jellett produced a pencil portrait of Davison, which shows her in a straw hat she frequently wore. The RHA exhibited Davidson's oil painting, ''The flax pullers'', in 1921. This work shows an influence from Paul Henry and French
Impressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open Composition (visual arts), composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating ...
in Davidson's use of colour-blocking. In the early 1920s, Davidson travelled to Switzerland, Belgium, and France, producing works such as ''Fish market, Bruges''. She lived in
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
in the late 1920s, exhibiting at the Salon de la Societé Nationale in 1924 and 1930. Davidson placed a self-portrait in her depiction of a peasant gathering, ''The country races''. Reproductions of her drawing of
Leinster House
Leinster House ( ga, Teach Laighean) is the seat of the Oireachtas, the parliament of Ireland. Originally, it was the ducal palace of the Dukes of Leinster. Since 1922, it is a complex of buildings, of which the former ducal palace is the core, ...
and Christ Church Cathedral by Bulmer Hobson were included in ''A book of Dublin'' (1929). Her landscape, ''Low tide, Wicklow'', which was exhibited at the RHA in 1934, and ''Boats at Wicklow, dusk'' show her ability to depict reflections in water. She continued to paint scenes of rural life, including ''Cottages – Keel, Achill'', which shows an influence from
Jack Butler Yeats
Jack Butler Yeats RHA (29 August 1871 – 28 March 1957) was an Irish art
The history of Irish art starts around 3200 BC with Neolithic stone carvings at the Newgrange megalithic tomb, part of the Brú na Bóinne complex which still stands ...
in her use of space and colour. The fact that Davidson's family was not wealthy may have influenced her choice of poorer people as her subjects, depicting them in a sympathetic manner. Her work was part of the painting event in the art competition at the
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics ( nl, Olympische Zomerspelen 1928), officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad ( nl, Spelen van de IXe Olympiade) and commonly known as Amsterdam 1928, was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated from ...
.
Davidson's paintings were exhibited at the Contemporary Picture Galleries, Dublin in 1930, alongside Yeats,
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 ...
, and Harry Kernoff. She was a member of the Picture Hire Club, 24 Molesworth Street, Dublin from 1941 to 1942, and was a frequent contributor to the Munster Fine Arts Club. Her work was exhibited at the Salon des Beaux Arts, Paris, the
Royal Academy of Arts
The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its purpo ...
, London, and in Amsterdam. A large number of her works from the 1930s show the Irish-speaking area of
Galway
Galway ( ; ga, Gaillimh, ) is a City status in Ireland, city in the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht, which is the county town of County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lo ...
,
Claddagh
Claddagh () is an area close to the centre of Galway city, where the River Corrib meets Galway Bay. It was formerly a fishing village, just outside the old city walls. It is just across the river from the Spanish Arch, which was the location of ...
, such as ''Night in Claddagh'', exhibited with the RHA in 1933. Her Irish landscapes, such as ''Claddagh cottages'', were included in the Oireachtas Art Exhibitions from 1932 to 1946. From around 1934, she was a 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 ...
, exhibiting with them from 1939 to 1954. She influenced the Society's move towards the avant-garde in the 1940s. She was elected associate to the RHA in 1940, and continued to exhibit there until her death. Her 1946 work, ''Gorta'', shows influence from Zola, Rilke, Dostoyevsky and Picasso.
Davidson taught drawing at her studio at 1 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin. Her pupils included
Bea Orpen
Bea Orpen HRHA (7 March 1913 – 12 July 1980) was an Irish landscape and portrait painter and teacher. She aided in the establishment of the Drogheda Municipal Gallery of Art.
Early life and education
Beatrice Esther Orpen was born at Lishee ...
,
Anne Yeats
Anne Butler Yeats (26 February 1919 – 4 July 2001) was an Irish painter, costume and stage designer.
Early and family life
She was the daughter of the poet William Butler Yeats and Georgie Hyde-Lees, a niece of the painter Jack B. Yeat ...
, and Mo Irwin. She also was a teacher at a number of Dublin schools, such as Belgrave school, Rathmines, Wesley College, St Stephen's Green, and Castle Park School, Dalkey. She travelled to Abbeyleix, County Laois, once a week to teach at Glenbawn boarding school.
Writing
As well as painting, Davidson wrote a number of plays, short stories, and monologues under a pseudonym, "Ulick Burke". In 1927, a collection of her poems and Donegal rhymes was published. In 1931,
Hilton Edwards
Hilton Edwards (2 February 1903 – 18 November 1982) was an English-born Irish actor, lighting designer and theatrical producer. He co-founded the Gate Theatre with his partner Micheál Mac Liammóir and two others, and has been referred to as ...
directed her stage play ''Bride'', at the Gate Theatre. Her short story, ''Her only son'', was published in ''The Bell'' under a pseudonym in 1942. In 1935, Davidson was a founder-member of the Torch Theatre, Dublin. She designed scenery, and was the co-director with Hugh Hyland in 1936, under the stage name "Jennifer Maude".
Later life and legacy
Davidson died at her home at 4 Wilton Terrace, Dublin on 29 March 1954. She is buried in an unmarked grave in
Mount Jerome Cemetery
Mount is often used as part of the name of specific mountains, e.g. Mount Everest.
Mount or Mounts may also refer to:
Places
* Mount, Cornwall, a village in Warleggan parish, England
* Mount, Perranzabuloe, a hamlet in Perranzabuloe parish, C ...
. 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 ...
(NGI) holds her 1938 portrait of Yeats, as well as her crayon drawing of
Sarah Purser
Sarah Henrietta Purser RHA (22 March 1848 – 7 August 1943) was an Irish artist mainly noted for her work with stained glass.
Biography
Purser was born in Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire) in County Dublin, and raised in Dungarvan, County Wate ...
. She was a regular attendee at Purser's "Second Tuesdays" gatherings. The
Abbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre ( ga, Amharclann na Mainistreach), also known as the National Theatre of Ireland ( ga, Amharclann Náisiúnta na hÉireann), in Dublin, Ireland, is one of the country's leading cultural institutions. First opening to the pu ...
holds her portrait of Joseph Holloway. Davidson bequeathed ''The golden shawl'' to the
Hugh Lane Gallery
The Hugh Lane Gallery, officially Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane and originally the Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, is an art museum operated by Dublin City Council and its subsidiary, the Hugh Lane Gallery Trust. It is in Charlemont House ( ...
, which is a large self-portrait. Two of her works were included in the NGI's 1987 exhibition, ''Irish Women Artists From the Eighteenth Century to the Present Day''.