Beatrice Elvery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beatrice Moss Elvery
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Portrait of Beatrice Elvery by William Orpen (1909)
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| Born | 1883 |
| Died | 1970 |
| Nationality | Irish |
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| Spouse(s) | Charles Campbell, 2nd Baron Glenavy |
Beatrice Moss Elvery (1883–1970) was a talented Irish artist. She was known for her paintings, stained-glass art, and sculptures. She was also a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA), a group of important Irish artists.
Early Life and Education
Beatrice Elvery was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1883. Her father, William Elvery, was a successful businessman whose family originally came from Spain. They were known for selling silk. Her family also owned the first Elverys Sports store in Dublin.
Beatrice's mother, Theresa Moss, and her aunt, Annie Moss, both studied at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. Following their lead, Beatrice and her sister, Dorothy, also attended the same art school. This school is now called the National College of Art and Design.
While at art school, Beatrice was taught painting by a famous artist named William Orpen. He sometimes used Beatrice as a model for his paintings. Orpen thought Beatrice was very gifted and talented. He said she could easily turn her ideas into art, whether it was on paper, canvas, clay, or glass.
Beatrice won many awards as a student. She received the Taylor Scholarship three years in a row (1901, 1902, and 1903). This was a special achievement, as only three students in history have won it so many times. After working as an artist for a while, Beatrice returned to the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. She wanted to learn how to make and paint leaded glass. Her teacher was Alfred Child, and she was greatly inspired by a book about stained glass by Christopher Whall.
Artistic Career
In 1903, another artist named Sarah Purser started a studio called An Túr Gloine, which means "The Tower of Glass." She invited Beatrice Elvery to be one of the designers there. Beatrice's first big project was creating six stained-glass windows for a chapel in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, in 1905.
Some of her other important stained-glass works include:
- Christ among the Doctors (1907) at St Stephen's Church in Dublin.
- A three-part window called Good Samaritan and The Prodigal Son at St Nicholas's Church in Carrickfergus.
Beatrice also created stained-glass windows for many other churches, including St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin and St Canice's Cathedral in Kilkenny. Some of her original drawings for these designs are kept at the National Gallery of Ireland.
Besides stained glass, Beatrice Elvery was also a painter and illustrated children's books. One of her most famous paintings is Éire (1907). This painting was inspired by a play by W. B. Yeats called 'Cathleen ni Houlihan,' where Maud Gonne played the main character. The painting showed the idea of an independent Ireland. Maud Gonne bought the painting and later gave it to Patrick Pearse, a leader in the Irish independence movement.
In 1932, Beatrice Elvery became an associate member of the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA). She became a full member in 1934. Her paintings were described as "romantic, absurd, theatrical and exciting" by the sculptor Albert Power.
Later Life and Family
In 1912, Beatrice Elvery married Charles Campbell, 2nd Baron Glenavy. They lived in London for a while but moved back to Ireland after World War I. After returning to Ireland, Beatrice focused more on her painting.
Beatrice and Charles had three children: Patrick, Bridget (known as Biddy), and Michael. During the Irish Civil War, their home in Ireland was targeted by people who were against the peace treaty. Beatrice bravely insisted that the raiders allow her to save important items from the house before it was damaged. She even directed them to rescue first edition books, original paintings, furniture, and even the children's Christmas presents.
While living in London, Beatrice and her husband were friends with many famous writers and artists. Their friends included W. B. Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, D.H. Lawrence, and Katherine Mansfield. Katherine Mansfield once described Beatrice as "a queer mixture for she is loving and affectionate, and yet she is malicious." Beatrice painted a portrait of Katherine Mansfield in her garden, which is now in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Sadly, Beatrice's daughter Bridget died in a bombing incident in 1972.
