Michael Stapleton
Encyclopedia
Michael Stapleton is regarded as having been the most skilled stuccodore working in the neoclassical or "Adam"
style that dominated Dublin interior decoration in the final decades of the 18th century.
by trade. He married Frances Todderick, the daughter of a Dublin timber merchant, in 1774. They lived for a few years in No. 59 Camden Street, until about 1781. Being a Catholic, he was not allowed become a member of a Guild
(this law was relaxed in 1793). In 1784 he was working in Trinity College
where some of the exceptional contributions he has made to stucco
work are to be seen. The Stapletons had four children: Robert who died young; George
took over the family business when his father died; Margaret married a stone-cutter called John Taylor; and Mary married into a family of paper-stainers and house painters.
The family moved to Mecklenburg Street, then associated with those in the building trade. Stapleton associated with the master-builder, Robert West, the progenitor of the Dublin School of plasterwork of the 1760s. When West died Stapleton was his executor. He inherited his pattern books and both modelled himself on, and refined the style of, this central figure in the shaping of architecture and design in Dublin and in the country.
He died in 1801 and is buried at Malahide Abbey, just outside Dublin City. After his death his son George continued his work, a famous example being the Chapel Royal
in Dublin Castle
. Two of his grand-children married members of the Conlan brewing family of Dublin.
in 1940 by the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland, which enabled previously unknown works by him to be identified. In connection with prominent Dublin buildings he was recorded by the Georgian Society Records (Dublin 1909-1913), and was credited with "much of the fine work in Dublin at this period". Sacheverell Sitwell
commented that: "...the Dublin artisans (of the period) were second to none in Europe, and the reader need only glance through the volumes of the Georgian Society to feel certain of this." The first studies specifically devoted to Stapleton were published in articles by C. P. Curran in 1939-40, who added significantly to the canon of Stapleton's executed works.
The most publicly available example of Stapleton's work is in Powerscourt House, South William Street, Dublin, and can be seen by every shopper who visits there. Countless generations of schoolboys at Belvedere College
in Dublin have also gazed upon his work. Among other buildings that he decorated are:
And there are many others.
). He was among the first leaseholders in Luke Gardiner's
development on Mountjoy Square. The houses he built and decorated to the hightest standard corresponded to Nos. 43, 44 and 45 Mountjoy Square.These houses became part of the struggle in the 1970s between the Georgian Society, who wanted the houses restored, but had not the resources to do so, and developers led by Matt Gallagher, of the Gallagher Group, who wanted to demolish the houses to build offices. Without security or mainenance the houses fell into a state of decay and for safety reasons Dublin Corporation had to demolish them.
He spent the last years of his life in a house he had built at No. 1 Mountjoy Place. This house was illegally demolished by the Jesuit owners of Belvedere College
, although it was under a preservation order, on 26 April 1968. The carved ceilings and other works of Stapleton were destroyed. After protests by the Dublin Civic Group and others, Dublin Corporation immediately called a halt to the demolition work, but by then it was too late.
Stapleton's will (proved in 1801) listed his profession as "builder", suggesting that house-building had become an important part of his career. He would have co-operated with his brother-in-law, Thomas Todderick, with whom he had qualified, and the plasterer Andrew Callnan in various developments.
Robert Adam
Robert Adam was a Scottish neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam , Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under him...
style that dominated Dublin interior decoration in the final decades of the 18th century.
Life
Stapleton was born in Dublin, the son of George Stapleton, who may have been a plastererPlasterer
A plasterer is a tradesman who works with plaster, such as forming a layer of plaster on an interior wall or plaster decorative moldings on ceilings or walls...
by trade. He married Frances Todderick, the daughter of a Dublin timber merchant, in 1774. They lived for a few years in No. 59 Camden Street, until about 1781. Being a Catholic, he was not allowed become a member of a Guild
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
(this law was relaxed in 1793). In 1784 he was working in Trinity College
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity 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...
where some of the exceptional contributions he has made to stucco
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
work are to be seen. The Stapletons had four children: Robert who died young; George
George Stapleton
George Stapleton was a prominent Irish stuccodore, son of Michael Stapleton.-Life:Stapleton was first listed in the Dublin Directory in 1817 as a plasterer residing at No. 1 Mountjoy Place . Between 1818 and 1828 he was listed as a "Stucco-worker and builder"...
took over the family business when his father died; Margaret married a stone-cutter called John Taylor; and Mary married into a family of paper-stainers and house painters.
The family moved to Mecklenburg Street, then associated with those in the building trade. Stapleton associated with the master-builder, Robert West, the progenitor of the Dublin School of plasterwork of the 1760s. When West died Stapleton was his executor. He inherited his pattern books and both modelled himself on, and refined the style of, this central figure in the shaping of architecture and design in Dublin and in the country.
He died in 1801 and is buried at Malahide Abbey, just outside Dublin City. After his death his son George continued his work, a famous example being the Chapel Royal
Chapel Royal (Dublin Castle)
The Chapel Royal in Dublin Castle was the official Church of Ireland chapel of the Household of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1814 until the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922...
in Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
. Two of his grand-children married members of the Conlan brewing family of Dublin.
Plaster work
Stapleton's name has become synonymous with the elegant ornamental plasterwork of the late 18th-century townhouse. His collection of decorative designs was presented to the National Library of IrelandNational Library of Ireland
The National Library of Ireland is Ireland's national library located in Dublin, in a building designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism is the member of the Irish Government responsible for the library....
in 1940 by the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland, which enabled previously unknown works by him to be identified. In connection with prominent Dublin buildings he was recorded by the Georgian Society Records (Dublin 1909-1913), and was credited with "much of the fine work in Dublin at this period". Sacheverell Sitwell
Sacheverell Sitwell
Sir Sacheverell Sitwell, 6th Baronet CH was an English writer, best known as an art critic and writer on architecture, particularly the baroque. He was the younger brother of Dame Edith Sitwell and Sir Osbert Sitwell....
commented that: "...the Dublin artisans (of the period) were second to none in Europe, and the reader need only glance through the volumes of the Georgian Society to feel certain of this." The first studies specifically devoted to Stapleton were published in articles by C. P. Curran in 1939-40, who added significantly to the canon of Stapleton's executed works.
The most publicly available example of Stapleton's work is in Powerscourt House, South William Street, Dublin, and can be seen by every shopper who visits there. Countless generations of schoolboys at Belvedere College
Belvedere College
Belvedere College SJ is a private secondary school for boys located on Great Denmark Street, Dublin, Ireland. It is also known as St. Francis Xavier's College....
in Dublin have also gazed upon his work. Among other buildings that he decorated are:
- Marlay HouseMarlay ParkMarlay Park is a suburban public park located in Rathfarnham in the administrative area of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, in Co. Dublin, Ireland. Lying about nine kilometres from Dublin city centre. The parkland comprises woodlands, ponds and walks...
, Co. Dublin - Lucan House, built around 1770 by Agmondisham Vesey, who had married into family of Patrick Sarsfield
- Nos. 16 and 17 St. Stephen's GreenSt. Stephen's GreenSt Stephen's Green is a city centre public park in Dublin, Ireland. The park is adjacent to one of Dublin's main shopping streets, Grafton Street, and to a shopping centre named for it, while on its surrounding streets are the offices of a number of public bodies and the city terminus of one of...
, Dublin - Nos. 5 and 6 Ely PlaceEly Place, DublinEly Place is a street in central Dublin with Georgian architecture. It is a continuation of Upper Merrion Street and the place where Lower Baggot Street and Merrion Row meet. Both the latter and Hume Street link it to St...
, Dublin - Mount Kennedy, Co. Wicklow
- Ardress HouseAnnaghmoreAnnaghmore is a small village and townland near Loughgall in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 255 people. It is within the Armagh City and District Council area.-Places of interest:...
, Co. Armagh - Nos. 19, 20, 35 and 43 North Great George's St., Dublin
- 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...
- notably the Examination Hall and Chapel.
And there are many others.
House-building
Stapleton built a number of houses in Dublin. The only house to have survived the "vicissitudes of time and site redevelopment" (Lucey) is the present No. 9 Harcourt Street, built around 1785. He built two further houses on Harcourt Street, corresponding to Nos. 3 and 4 (the latter the birthplace of Edward CarsonEdward Carson, Baron Carson
Edward Henry Carson, Baron Carson PC, PC , Kt, QC , often known as Sir Edward Carson or Lord Carson, was a barrister, judge and politician from Ireland...
). He was among the first leaseholders in Luke Gardiner's
Luke Gardiner
Luke Gardiner was an Irish property developer and politician.In the Irish House of Commons he represented Tralee from 1725 until 1727 and Thomastown from 1727 until his death in 1755 . He was appointed to the Irish Privy Council on 2 August 1737.In 1711 he married Anne Stewart, daughter of the Hon...
development on Mountjoy Square. The houses he built and decorated to the hightest standard corresponded to Nos. 43, 44 and 45 Mountjoy Square.These houses became part of the struggle in the 1970s between the Georgian Society, who wanted the houses restored, but had not the resources to do so, and developers led by Matt Gallagher, of the Gallagher Group, who wanted to demolish the houses to build offices. Without security or mainenance the houses fell into a state of decay and for safety reasons Dublin Corporation had to demolish them.
He spent the last years of his life in a house he had built at No. 1 Mountjoy Place. This house was illegally demolished by the Jesuit owners of Belvedere College
Belvedere College
Belvedere College SJ is a private secondary school for boys located on Great Denmark Street, Dublin, Ireland. It is also known as St. Francis Xavier's College....
, although it was under a preservation order, on 26 April 1968. The carved ceilings and other works of Stapleton were destroyed. After protests by the Dublin Civic Group and others, Dublin Corporation immediately called a halt to the demolition work, but by then it was too late.
Stapleton's will (proved in 1801) listed his profession as "builder", suggesting that house-building had become an important part of his career. He would have co-operated with his brother-in-law, Thomas Todderick, with whom he had qualified, and the plasterer Andrew Callnan in various developments.