Cecil Ffrench Salkeld facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cecil Ffrench Salkeld
Salkeld by Reginald Gray (1957)
Born	9 July 1904 Assam, India
Died	11 May 1969(1969-05-11) (aged 64) St Laurence's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

Cecil Ffrench Salkeld was a talented Irish artist. He was known for his paintings, prints, and writing. He was born on July 9, 1904, and passed away on May 11, 1969.

Early Life and Family

Cecil Ffrench Salkeld was born in Assam, India. His mother, Blanaid Salkeld, was a well-known poet. When he was young, Cecil moved to Ireland with his mother. He went to different schools, including the Dragon School in Oxford, England.

In 1919, Cecil began studying art. He attended the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. Here, he learned from famous artists like Seán Keating. In 1922, he got married in Germany to Irma Taesler. They had two daughters named Beatrice and Celia.

Cecil Salkeld's Art Career

Cecil Salkeld was a very versatile artist. He used different art techniques. These included painting with tempera and oil. He also created prints using etching and wood engraving.

In 1921, Cecil traveled to Germany to study art further. He learned from Ewald Dulberg at the Kassell Kunstschule. He even showed his art at a big international exhibition. When he returned to Dublin in 1924, he had his first art show. He became a member of the Dublin Painters group in 1927.

Working with Writers and Other Artists

Cecil had many friends who were writers. These included famous authors like Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien. He also taught art at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. One of his students was the artist Reginald Gray.

Cecil won an important art award in 1926. It was called the Taylor scholarship. In 1929, his work was shown at the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA). This is a very respected art institution in Ireland.

The Gayfield Press

From 1937 to 1946, Cecil ran a special printing business. It was called the Gayfield Press. He started it with his mother, Blanaid Salkeld. They used a small hand press in their garden shed.

Cecil illustrated several books for the press. He drew pictures for his mother's book, The Engine left running. He also illustrated books by other writers. Later, he loaned his press to Liam and Josephine Miller. They used it to start the famous Dolmen Press.

Later Life and Legacy

One of Cecil Salkeld's most famous artworks is a large mural. It is a three-part painting in Davy Byrne's pub in Dublin. He painted it in 1942.

Cecil was also a talented pianist. In the 1940s, he helped start the Irish National Ballet School. In 1946, he became an associate member of the RHA. During the 1950s, he worked for Radio Éireann. He helped direct cultural events for An Tóstal.

Cecil Ffrench Salkeld passed away in Dublin in 1969. The National Gallery of Ireland has a portrait painted by Salkeld. It is a painting of his daughter, Celia.