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Daniel O'Neill (painter) facts for kids

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Daniel O'Neill (born 1920 – died March 9, 1974) was a talented painter from Belfast, Ireland. He is known for his romantic style, which means his art often showed strong feelings and focused on themes like love, life, and death.

About Daniel O'Neill

Daniel O'Neill was born in Belfast. His father was an electrician, and Daniel also worked as an electrician for a while. He mostly taught himself how to paint. He did take some art classes at the Belfast College of Art. He also learned from another artist named Sidney Smith.

Daniel quickly developed a unique painting style. It was called expressionist, which means he showed strong feelings in his art. He also used a romantic style, focusing on themes like love, life, and death in his paintings.

His painting career began around the time of World War II. After the 1941 Belfast Blitz (a bombing event), he used salvaged wood to try wood carving. Daniel's first art show was at the Mol Gallery in Belfast in 1941.

In 1949, he traveled to Paris, France. There, he was inspired by famous painters like Georges Rouault, Maurice de Vlaminck, and Maurice Utrillo. After this trip, he created many of his most famous works. These include Place du Tertre (1949), The Blue Skirt (1949), Knockalla Hills, Donegal (1951), and Birth (1952). Later in his career, his paintings used brighter colors.

In the 1950s, O'Neill moved from Belfast to Conlig, County Down. This area was home to a small group of artists. Other artists there included George Campbell and Gerard Dillon. From 1958 to 1971, Daniel lived in London. His art during this time often showed a more thoughtful and sometimes lonely mood. Daniel O'Neill returned to Belfast in 1971. He passed away there in 1974.

During his lifetime, Daniel O'Neill's paintings were mostly shown at the Royal Hibernian Academy. Some of his works were also displayed at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. This was part of a special show in 2005 that featured artists from Northern Ireland.

Famous Paintings

Here are some of Daniel O'Neill's well-known paintings:

  • Place du Tertre (1949)
  • The Blue Skirt (1949)
  • Knockalla Hills, Donegal (1951)
  • Western Landscape (1951)
  • Birth (1952)
  • The Artist's Studio
  • Belfast after the Riot
  • Bride and Groom
  • The Clown
  • Girl with a Red Bow (This painting was sold for a lot of money in 2005!)
  • Girl with Blossoms
  • Girl with Doves
  • The Pearl Necklace
  • Sunday Afternoon

Art Shows

Daniel O'Neill's paintings were shown in many exhibitions:

  • Mol Gallery, Belfast (1941)
  • Tooth Galleries, London (1951)
  • Tooth Galleries, London (1954) (with another artist, Colin Middleton)
  • Recent Paintings, McClelland Galleries (1970)
  • Royal Hibernian Academy
  • Irish Museum of Modern Art (2005)
  • Gerard Dillon, Art and Friendships Adams Auctioneers Summer 2013

Where to See His Art

You can find Daniel O'Neill's paintings in these art collections:

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