Edward Plunkett, 20th Baron of Dunsany facts for kids

Edward John Carlos Plunkett, 20th Baron of Dunsany (born September 10, 1939 – died May 24, 2011) was an Irish artist. He was a talented painter and sculptor. He also owned a large estate.

Edward Plunkett was the grandson of a famous writer, also named Lord Dunsany. Edward became the 20th Baron of Dunsany in 1999. This happened after his father passed away.

Life of Edward Plunkett

His Early Years and School

Edward Plunkett was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1939. During World War II, he lived in Brazil. He returned to Ireland when he was seven years old. At that time, he only spoke Brazilian Portuguese.

His parents divorced in 1947. Edward was then raised by his grandparents. He went to school at Eton College. Later, he studied art at the Slade School of Fine Art from 1957 to 1960. He was very good at drawing.

His Artistic Career

Edward Plunkett learned a lot about art. He trained with Loio Persio in Brazil in the early 1960s. He also studied engraving with S.W. Hayter in Paris. From 1962 to 1964, he attended the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

He became a skilled artist using paint and pencils. He later added architectural studies and design work to his skills. He worked in France and then moved to Rome, Italy. In Rome, he had his own art studio. After a big art show in 1975, he went through a difficult time. He lost some of his artwork.

Working in New York

In 1977, Plunkett moved to New York, USA. He opened an art studio there. He also started working a lot on design projects. While in New York, he got married. He also helped start a company called de Marsillac Plunkett Inc. This company did design and architecture work. He created designs for his wife's architectural projects.

Returning to Ireland

In 1991, Edward and his family moved to London. He had an art studio there for two years. In 1994, he returned to his family's estate in Ireland. This estate was Dunsany, near the Hill of Tara. He set up his main art studio in an old building at the castle. In Ireland, he also designed things for companies. These included designs for glass bottles, like for mineral water and champagne.

Edward Plunkett was mostly a painter. But he also created sculptures. These sculptures were made in France or the UK based on his designs. He painted official portraits of two former Prime Ministers of Ireland. Their names were Charles Haughey and John Bruton.

Art Exhibitions and Collections

Edward Plunkett's art was shown many times. His last public show was in Rome in 2005. Some of his exhibitions included:

• 1968: Mayor Gallery, London
• 1969: ICA, London (a group show called "Young and Fantastic")
• 1970: Living Irish Artists, Dublin and Belfast (group show)
• 1971: ROSC, Galway (group show)
• 1972: The Agnew Somerville Gallery, Dublin
• 1974: Mayor Gallery, London
• 1975: Galleria Il Collezionista d'Arte Contemporarea
• 2005: Galleria Candido Portinari, Palazzo Pamphilj, Rome

He was also good at product design. His last big design project was at Dunsany Castle. He turned an old part of the castle into an art studio and exhibition area. This area is now called The Plunkett Gallery. It displays his paintings, lithographs, drawings, and designs. You can also see his sculptures and designed objects there. These include perfume bottles, Champagne bottles, and special vases. The gallery is open for visitors by appointment.

Edward Plunkett's artwork is held in many places. These include the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery in Dublin. His work is also in the Arts Council of Ireland. The National Museum of Poland and the Centre for Contemporary Art in Canada also have his art.

His Family Life

In 1982, Edward Plunkett married Maria Alice Villela de Carvalho. She was an architect. She was also a descendant of famous explorers. Edward and Maria lived at Dunsany Castle in Ireland. They had two sons, Randal Plunkett, 21st Baron of Dunsany and Oliver Plunkett. Edward also had two stepchildren, Daniel and Joana. They were very close to him.

Edward Plunkett passed away in May 2011. He had been ill for some years. He developed a condition called cerebral palsy. A private funeral was held at Dunsany Castle. He was buried in the castle grounds, near the Church of St. Nicholas. A memorial service was held a week later.

External sources

• Edward Plunkett's website as artist
• Dunsany.net (family website)
• Obituary of Lord Dunsany, The Daily Telegraph, 14 June 2011
• Obituary of Lord Dunsany, The Meath Chronicle, 6 June 2011