(Frederick) George Campbell (29 July 1917 – 18 May 1979) was an Irish artist and writer. Though he grew up in Belfast, Campbell spent much of his adult life living and painting in Spain and Dublin, Ireland.
George Campbell was born in Arklow, County Wicklow,[1] the son of Gretta Bowen (1880-1981) and Matthew Campbell (1866-1925).[2] He attended boarding school in Dublin (Masonic Orphan Boys’ School at Clonskeagh) before moving to Belfast to live with his widowed mother and family.[3]
Campbell was working in an aircraft factory at the time of the Belfast Blitz, and began to paint, taking the bomb-damage as his subject.[4] He was one of the founders of the Irish Exhibition of Living Art in 1943.[5] In the same year along with his brother Arthur (1909-1994) he published a sixteen-page book entitled Ulster in Black and White, that included drawings from the two brothers and their close contemporaries Maurice Wilks and Patricia Webb.[6] Owing to the success of the original publication the brothers then published Now in Ulster (1944), an anthology of short stories, essays and poetry by young Belfast writers.[7]
Campbell held a joint exhibition at the William Mol Gallery, Belfast with his brother Arthur in 1944. In the same year he also showed with Gerard Dillon at the Portadown gallery of John Lamb. In 1946 he showed with the Victor Waddington Gallery in Dublin, where he was to return on a number of occasions. The Council for the Encouragement of Art and Music hosted a solo exhibition in 1949 where he was to show twice more, in 1952 and 1960. He won £500 at the first CEMA Open Painting Competition at the Ulster Museum in 1962. Campbell also showed in one-man exhibitions with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland in 1966 and 1972.[8]
After the war Campbell became increasingly interested in Spain. In 1946 he came to know Spaniards who had settled in Dublin, and when in London painted visiting Spanish dancers in their traditional costume.[9] He first visited Spain in 1951, encouraged by his friendship with Gerard Dillon and "an interest in bohemian characters".[10] Dillon helped Noreen Rice who he met in 1951. She regarded both Dillon and Campbell as her mentors for decades and her work was of a similar surrealistic and primitive style.[11] In the 1960s Campbell made his home in Ranelagh, Dublin on Florence Terrace, Leeson Park Avenue.[12]
Campbell lived in Spain for six months almost every year throughout much of the following twenty-five years.[13]
George Campbell died in Dublin in May 1979. He was survived by his wife Margaret, his Mother, and two brothers, Arthur and Stanley.[13] After his death the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and An Chomhairle Ealáion joined with the Instituto Cervantes to initiate the George Campbell Memorial Travel Award.[15] In May 2017, Arklow Municipal District Council unveiled two plaques at St. Patrick's Terrace, Arklow, marking George's birthplace and 100 years since his birth.[16]
Ulster in Black and White, Belfast, Campbell, Arthur., and Campbell, George., 1943.
(ed. with Arthur Campbell) Now in Ulster, Belfast: A. and G. Campbell, 1944.
(illus.) Guide to the National Monuments in the Republic of Ireland, 1970.
An eyeful of Ireland, Dublin: A. Figgis, 1973.
Referencesedit
^ abKate Newman, Frederick George Campbell (1917 - 1979), Dictionary of Ulster Biography. Accessed 12 January 2013.
^'Bowen, Gretta (1880–1981)', Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia, ed. Anne Commire, 2000. [ via HighBeam.
^Brankin, Una (20 August 2015). "The exhibition that's bringing back to life the art of the Belfast Boys". Life: Features. Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
^Gabrielle Warnock; Jeff W. O'Connell (November 2000). Face to Face. Trident Press Ltd. p. 228. ISBN978-1-900724-46-3. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
^White, James (1994). Gerard Dillon: an illustrated biography. Dublin: Wolfhound Press. p. 44. ISBN0-86327-364-5. OCLC 29646136.
^Guy Woodward, Strange Openings: the Second World War in paintings by Colin Middleton, Postgraduate English, Issue No. 20 (September 2009). Accessed 12 January 2013.
^Snoddy, Theo (2002). 20th Century Dictionary of Irish Art (2nd ed.). Dublin, Ireland: Merlin. p. 70. ISBN1-903582-17-2.
^'Spanish eye: George Campbell', The Irish Times, 25 March 2006.
^'Campbell, George', Grove Art Online. Reprinted at Artfact, accessed 12 January 2013.
^"Rice, Noreen | Dictionary of Irish Biography". www.dib.ie. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
^"Campbell, George Frederick | Dictionary of Irish Biography". www.dib.ie. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
^ ab"Art World Mourns Loss of Pioneer". Belfast Telegraph. 19 May 1979. p. 5. Retrieved 7 March 2022 – via Findmypast.co.uk.
^ abc"Avant garde 'Belfast boys' reunited at The Ava". Life. The Irish News. 25 July 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
^Coleman, Deborah (20 May 2017). "Local Artist Celebrated". Wicklow People. from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
Sourcesedit
Reihill, Karen. George Campbell & The Belfast Boys, Summer Loan Exhibition Catalogue, Adams (2015)
Reihill, Karen. Gerard Dillon, Art and Friendships, Summer Loan Exhibition Catalogue, Adams (2013)
External linksedit
"Looking for George, Buscando a George", documentary about the life and work of George Campbell
A selection of George Campbell's work in public collections via ArtUK
January 01, 1970
george, campbell, painter, frederick, george, campbell, july, 1917, 1979, irish, artist, writer, though, grew, belfast, campbell, spent, much, adult, life, living, painting, spain, dublin, ireland, george, campbellborn29, july, 1917arklow, county, wicklowdied1. Frederick George Campbell 29 July 1917 18 May 1979 was an Irish artist and writer Though he grew up in Belfast Campbell spent much of his adult life living and painting in Spain and Dublin Ireland George CampbellBorn29 July 1917Arklow County WicklowDied18 May 1979Dublin IrelandResting placeSt Kevin s Cemetery Glendalough County WicklowNationalityIrishEducationSelf taughtKnown forPainting amp writingStyleAbstract Contents 1 Life 2 Death amp legacy 3 Books 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksLife editGeorge Campbell was born in Arklow County Wicklow 1 the son of Gretta Bowen 1880 1981 and Matthew Campbell 1866 1925 2 He attended boarding school in Dublin Masonic Orphan Boys School at Clonskeagh before moving to Belfast to live with his widowed mother and family 3 Campbell was working in an aircraft factory at the time of the Belfast Blitz and began to paint taking the bomb damage as his subject 4 He was one of the founders of the Irish Exhibition of Living Art in 1943 5 In the same year along with his brother Arthur 1909 1994 he published a sixteen page book entitled Ulster in Black and White that included drawings from the two brothers and their close contemporaries Maurice Wilks and Patricia Webb 6 Owing to the success of the original publication the brothers then published Now in Ulster 1944 an anthology of short stories essays and poetry by young Belfast writers 7 Campbell held a joint exhibition at the William Mol Gallery Belfast with his brother Arthur in 1944 In the same year he also showed with Gerard Dillon at the Portadown gallery of John Lamb In 1946 he showed with the Victor Waddington Gallery in Dublin where he was to return on a number of occasions The Council for the Encouragement of Art and Music hosted a solo exhibition in 1949 where he was to show twice more in 1952 and 1960 He won 500 at the first CEMA Open Painting Competition at the Ulster Museum in 1962 Campbell also showed in one man exhibitions with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland in 1966 and 1972 8 After the war Campbell became increasingly interested in Spain In 1946 he came to know Spaniards who had settled in Dublin and when in London painted visiting Spanish dancers in their traditional costume 9 He first visited Spain in 1951 encouraged by his friendship with Gerard Dillon and an interest in bohemian characters 10 Dillon helped Noreen Rice who he met in 1951 She regarded both Dillon and Campbell as her mentors for decades and her work was of a similar surrealistic and primitive style 11 In the 1960s Campbell made his home in Ranelagh Dublin on Florence Terrace Leeson Park Avenue 12 Campbell lived in Spain for six months almost every year throughout much of the following twenty five years 13 Campbell made stained glass windows for Galway Cathedral 14 He also played flamenco guitar A member of the Royal Hibernian Academy he won the Douglas Hyde Gold Medal in 1966 and the Oireachtas Prize for Landscape in 1969 14 The Spanish government made him a Knight Commander of Spain in 1978 14 1 Death amp legacy editGeorge Campbell died in Dublin in May 1979 He was survived by his wife Margaret his Mother and two brothers Arthur and Stanley 13 After his death the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and An Chomhairle Ealaion joined with the Instituto Cervantes to initiate the George Campbell Memorial Travel Award 15 In May 2017 Arklow Municipal District Council unveiled two plaques at St Patrick s Terrace Arklow marking George s birthplace and 100 years since his birth 16 Campbell s work forms part of many private and public art collections including Queen s University Belfast Ulster Museum Irish Museum of Modern Art Hugh Lane Gallery The National Self Portrait Collection of Ireland and Municipal Museum of Antequera Malaga 15 Books editUlster in Black and White Belfast Campbell Arthur and Campbell George 1943 ed with Arthur Campbell Now in Ulster Belfast A and G Campbell 1944 illus Guide to the National Monuments in the Republic of Ireland 1970 An eyeful of Ireland Dublin A Figgis 1973 References edit a b Kate Newman Frederick George Campbell 1917 1979 Dictionary of Ulster Biography Accessed 12 January 2013 Bowen Gretta 1880 1981 Women in World History A Biographical Encyclopedia ed Anne Commire 2000 https web archive org web 20160326231732 https www highbeam com doc 1G2 2591301349 html via HighBeam Brankin Una 20 August 2015 The exhibition that s bringing back to life the art of the Belfast Boys Life Features Belfast Telegraph Retrieved 1 February 2016 George Campbell 1917 1979 Gabrielle Warnock Jeff W O Connell November 2000 Face to Face Trident Press Ltd p 228 ISBN 978 1 900724 46 3 Retrieved 12 January 2013 White James 1994 Gerard Dillon an illustrated biography Dublin Wolfhound Press p 44 ISBN 0 86327 364 5 OCLC 29646136 Guy Woodward Strange Openings the Second World War in paintings by Colin Middleton Postgraduate English Issue No 20 September 2009 Accessed 12 January 2013 Snoddy Theo 2002 20th Century Dictionary of Irish Art 2nd ed Dublin Ireland Merlin p 70 ISBN 1 903582 17 2 Spanish eye George Campbell The Irish Times 25 March 2006 Campbell George Grove Art Online Reprinted at Artfact accessed 12 January 2013 Rice Noreen Dictionary of Irish Biography www dib ie Retrieved 26 October 2022 Campbell George Frederick Dictionary of Irish Biography www dib ie Retrieved 30 December 2022 a b Art World Mourns Loss of Pioneer Belfast Telegraph 19 May 1979 p 5 Retrieved 7 March 2022 via Findmypast co uk a b c Avant garde Belfast boys reunited at The Ava Life The Irish News 25 July 2015 Retrieved 1 January 2016 a b Snoddy Theo 2002 p 71 Coleman Deborah 20 May 2017 Local Artist Celebrated Wicklow People Archived from the original on 7 March 2022 Retrieved 6 March 2022 Sources editReihill Karen George Campbell amp The Belfast Boys Summer Loan Exhibition Catalogue Adams 2015 Reihill Karen Gerard Dillon Art and Friendships Summer Loan Exhibition Catalogue Adams 2013 External links edit Looking for George Buscando a George documentary about the life and work of George Campbell A selection of George Campbell s work in public collections via ArtUK Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Campbell painter amp oldid 1182901685, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
