Padraig Marrinan

Padraig Marrinan
Born (1906-12-10)December 10, 1906
Belfast
Died October 25, 1973(1973-10-25)
Omagh
Nationality Irish
Education Principally self-taught
Known for Portraits, landscapes, religious
Notable work 'The Apache', 'Tinkers', 'Ukele Laddie', 'Our Lady of Belfast', 'The Madonna and Child of Loretto'
Spouse(s) Phyllis Meyler
Awards "Picture of the Year" , Royal Ulster Academy - 1934 and 1950

Padraig Marrinan (December 10, 1906 – October 25, 1973[1][2]) was an Irish painter.[1] Also known as PH Marrinan or Patrick H. Marrinan, he was born in Belfast, Ireland. He contracted poliomyelitis at the age of five years and for several years, he could not walk. Virtually self-taught as an artist, he was privately educated as his ailment prevented public schooling.[1]

Subjects

Marrinan painted landscapes in Antrim, Kerry, Connemara and Donegal as well as numerous portraits of family, which are held in private collections. He was also interested in Celtic mythology and in religious art. He painted the Stations of the Cross for St Colman's Church, Lambeg, County Antrim, and 'Our Lady of Belfast' is in Holy Cross Church, Ardoyne, Belfast. 'The Madonna and Child of Loretto' is in the Convent School, Omagh, County Tyrone.[1] He was also well known for literary portraits of Brian Friel, Padraic Fiach and Joseph Tomelty.

His 1934 charcoal drawing of Robert Johnson, an Irish Fenian, is now placed in the National Gallery of Ireland. He was commissioned to paint portraits of Éamonn Ceannt and John F. Kennedy by the Republic of Ireland's Department of Defence and the County Clare association in London, respectively.

He held his first solo exhibition in 1951 at the Donegal Place Gallery, the paintings displayed there showing a change of direction for Marrinan. The theme was the legends of Ireland, painted with sweeping, colourful evocations of folklore figures.

Influences

He named William Orpen and John Lavery as influences and also claimed American comic strip artist, Bud Fisher as an important influence in his youth. His painting of a Belfast musician standing in a doorway, called 'Ukulele Laddie' featured in a 1930 exhibition at the Ulster Academy of Arts and was praised by Hungarian artist, Philip de Laslo.

Awards

In the 1934 exhibition, he won "Picture of the Year" for 'The Apache'. Again, in 1950, he won "Picture of the Year" at the Royal Ulster Academy for his painting called 'Tinkers'.

Personal

Marrinan married Phyllis Meyler in later life and lived in Omagh, County Tyrone, where he resided until his death.

Additional Reading

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Padraig Marrinan (1906 - 1973)". newulsterbiography.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  2. ↑ "Padraig H. Marrinan 1906–1973". BBC. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  3. ↑ "Padraig Marrinan". spiritus-temporis.com. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 3/11/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.