Mainie Jellett
Encyclopedia
Mary Harriet Jellett, known as Mainie Jellett (1897, Dublin – 1944, Dublin) was an Irish painter whose Decoration (1923) was among the first abstract painting shown in Ireland when it was exhibited at the Society of Dublin Painters Group Show in 1923.
Mainie Jellett studied at the Metropolitan School of Art in Dublin and under Walter Sickert
at the Westminster Technical Institute in London. She showed precocious talent as an artist in the impressionist style. However, with her companion Evie Hone
, she then moved to Paris, where, working under André Lhote
and Albert Gleizes
she encountered cubism
and began an exploration of non-representational art. After 1921 she and Evie Hone returned to Dublin but for the next decade they continued to spend part of each year in Paris.
A deeply committed Christian, her paintings, though strictly non-representational, often have religious titles and often resemble icons in tone and palate. In Irish Art, a Concise History Bruce Arnold writes that
Jellett was an important figure in Irish art history, both as an early proponent of abstract art and as a champion of the modern movement. Her painting was often attacked critically but she proved eloquent in defense of her ideas. Along with Evie Hone, Louis le Brocquy
, Jack Hanlon and Norah McGuinness
she helped found the Irish Exhibition of Living Art in 1943. She died a year later, aged 47.
Mainie Jellett studied at the Metropolitan School of Art in Dublin and under Walter Sickert
Walter Sickert
Walter Richard Sickert , born in Munich, Germany, was a painter who was a member of the Camden Town Group in London. He was an important influence on distinctively British styles of avant-garde art in the 20th century....
at the Westminster Technical Institute in London. She showed precocious talent as an artist in the impressionist style. However, with her companion Evie Hone
Evie Hone
Evie Hone was a Dublin born Irish painter and stained glass artist.She was related to Nathaniel Hone and Nathaniel Hone the Younger. Her most important works are probably the East Window for the Chapel at Eton College, Windsor and My Four Green Fields, now located in Government Buildings...
, she then moved to Paris, where, working under André Lhote
André Lhote
André Lhote was a French sculptor and painter of figure subjects, portraits, landscapes and still life. He was also very active and influential as a teacher and writer on art....
and Albert Gleizes
Albert Gleizes
Albert Gleizes , was a French painter. Born Albert Léon Gleizes and raised in Paris, he was the son of a fabric designer who ran a large industrial design workshop...
she encountered cubism
Cubism
Cubism was a 20th century avant-garde art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture...
and began an exploration of non-representational art. After 1921 she and Evie Hone returned to Dublin but for the next decade they continued to spend part of each year in Paris.
A deeply committed Christian, her paintings, though strictly non-representational, often have religious titles and often resemble icons in tone and palate. In Irish Art, a Concise History Bruce Arnold writes that
- "Many of her abstracts are built up from a central 'eye' or 'heart' in arcs of colour, help up and together by the rhythm of line and shape, and given depth and intensity - a sense of abstract perspective - by the basic understanding of light and colour"
Jellett was an important figure in Irish art history, both as an early proponent of abstract art and as a champion of the modern movement. Her painting was often attacked critically but she proved eloquent in defense of her ideas. Along with Evie Hone, Louis le Brocquy
Louis le Brocquy
Louis le Brocquy is an Irish painter born in Dublin. His work has received many accolades in a career that spans seventy years of creative practice...
, Jack Hanlon and Norah McGuinness
Norah McGuinness
Norah McGuinness was an Irish painter and illustrator.Norah McGuinness trained at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art and at Chelsea Polytechnic in London before spending the 1920s working in Dublin as a book illustrator and stage designer...
she helped found the Irish Exhibition of Living Art in 1943. She died a year later, aged 47.
Work in collections
- Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, including:
- Niland Art Collection, Sligo
- Butler GalleryButler GalleryButler Gallery is an art gallery in Kilkenny, Ireland, with a collection of works by important Irish and international artists from the present day back to the 18th century. Artists represented include Nathaniel Hone, Louis le Brocquy, Jack Butler Yeats, Barrie Cooke, Tony O'Malley, Mainie Jellett,...
Collection, Kilkenny - Trinity College, DublinTrinity College, DublinTrinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
- The Hugh Lane Municipal GalleryHugh Lane Municipal GalleryDublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane is an art gallery funded by Dublin City Council and located in Charlemont House in Dublin, Ireland. Charlemont House was originally the town house of James Caulfeild, the 1st Earl of Charlemont and was designed by Sir William Chambers.Previously called the...
, Dublin - The Irish Museum of Modern ArtIrish Museum of Modern ArtThe Irish Museum of Modern Art also known as IMMA, is Ireland's leading national institution exhibiting and collecting modern and contemporary art. The museum opened in May 1991 and is located in Royal Hospital Kilmainham, a 17th-century building near Heuston Station to the west of Dublin's city...
, Dublin - The National Gallery of IrelandNational Gallery of IrelandThe National Gallery of Ireland houses the Irish 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 Clare Street. It was founded in 1854 and opened its doors ten years later...
, Dublin