In a Dublin Park, Light and Shade is an oil on canvas painting by the Irish artist Walter Osborne, completed c. 1895, and housed in the National Gallery of Ireland. The work is renowned for both its harrowing depiction of Dublin's poor at the turn of the 20th century, and its detailing of the effects of light and shadow, and evidences the artist's learning from the French Impressionists.[1]
It was first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1895, and was one of Osborne's early commercially successful paintings,[2] and established him as one of Ireland's most important 19th century painters.[3]
Descriptionedit
Mother and Child, 1895. Study of the same year
In a Dublin Park, Light and Shade is set on an autumn evening in the Phoenix Park, in Dublin, and shows five figures sitting on a bench. The central character, brilliantly lit by the light falling from the left, is a young woman holding an infant on her knee, who looks out wearily at the viewer, and appears exhausted and ill.
The painting is a study of the journey from infancy, to youth and to old age.[4] The artist's seems to unsentimentally empathise with the plight of the working class subjects, and the painting is filled with poignant unease and tension.[4] The art critic Brian Fallon wrote that "Osborne's humanity and powers of sympathy are plain in his pictures of the poor".[5] The painting is unusually cropped, with the excess space to the left of the bout; while the old man to at the right is almost cut out. This may reflect the painting's preoccupation with ageing and time, the boy has an abundance, the old man has little.
Walter Osborne, Summertime, 1901. Note the similarity perspective of the viewer, in the treatment of light; the expression of the central female, and the alignment of the figures
According to Niamh Keaveney, of the Centre for the Study of Irish Art, "there is a very tangible feeling of struggle and weariness when we look at the figures’ expressions. Despite sitting in this pleasant environment, their faces are still troubled with the worries they came to escape from".[6]
Potterton, Homan. "Masterpieces from National Gallery of Ireland. A Loan Exhibition at The National Gallery, London 27 March - 27 May 1985". Dublin: National Gallery of Ireland, 1985. ISBN0-9031-6218-0
December 02, 2023
dublin, park, light, shade, canvas, painting, irish, artist, walter, osborne, completed, 1895, housed, national, gallery, ireland, work, renowned, both, harrowing, depiction, dublin, poor, turn, 20th, century, detailing, effects, light, shadow, evidences, arti. In a Dublin Park Light and Shade is an oil on canvas painting by the Irish artist Walter Osborne completed c 1895 and housed in the National Gallery of Ireland The work is renowned for both its harrowing depiction of Dublin s poor at the turn of the 20th century and its detailing of the effects of light and shadow and evidences the artist s learning from the French Impressionists 1 In a Dublin Park Light and Shade Walter Osborne Oil on canvas 1895 National Gallery of IrelandIt was first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1895 and was one of Osborne s early commercially successful paintings 2 and established him as one of Ireland s most important 19th century painters 3 Description edit nbsp Mother and Child 1895 Study of the same yearIn a Dublin Park Light and Shade is set on an autumn evening in the Phoenix Park in Dublin and shows five figures sitting on a bench The central character brilliantly lit by the light falling from the left is a young woman holding an infant on her knee who looks out wearily at the viewer and appears exhausted and ill The painting is a study of the journey from infancy to youth and to old age 4 The artist s seems to unsentimentally empathise with the plight of the working class subjects and the painting is filled with poignant unease and tension 4 The art critic Brian Fallon wrote that Osborne s humanity and powers of sympathy are plain in his pictures of the poor 5 The painting is unusually cropped with the excess space to the left of the bout while the old man to at the right is almost cut out This may reflect the painting s preoccupation with ageing and time the boy has an abundance the old man has little nbsp Walter Osborne Summertime 1901 Note the similarity perspective of the viewer in the treatment of light the expression of the central female and the alignment of the figuresAccording to Niamh Keaveney of the Centre for the Study of Irish Art there is a very tangible feeling of struggle and weariness when we look at the figures expressions Despite sitting in this pleasant environment their faces are still troubled with the worries they came to escape from 6 Notes edit In a Dublin Park Light and Shade Archived 2017 05 14 at the Wayback Machine National Gallery of Ireland Retrieved 14 May 2017 Cuming Frederick Exhibition of the Royal Academy Volumes 125 128 London Royal Academy Books 2003 37 ISBN 1 9039 7317 1 Laffan William The art of a nation three centuries of Irish painting Pyms Gallery 2002 ISBN 0 9541 4890 8 a b Arnold Bruce Walter Osborne Bonhams Retrieved 14 May 2017 Fallon Brian Irish Art 1830 1990 Appletree Press 1998 71 ISBN 0 8628 1438 3 People s Choice permanent dead link National Gallery of Ireland Retrieved 14 May 2017Sources editPotterton Homan Masterpieces from National Gallery of Ireland A Loan Exhibition at The National Gallery London 27 March 27 May 1985 Dublin National Gallery of Ireland 1985 ISBN 0 9031 6218 0 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title In a Dublin Park Light and Shade amp oldid 1169818499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
