Eileen Barnes facts for kids

Eileen Barnes (born 1876, died 1956) was a super talented Irish artist. She was famous for drawing plants and making models that looked exactly like the real thing. Her amazing work helped people learn about Ireland's plant life.

Growing Up: Eileen Barnes' Early Life

Eileen Barnes was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1876. She was the youngest of six children. Her father owned a grocery and wine shop in Dublin.

Eileen went to Rutland School for Girls in Dublin. Later, she studied at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art in 1898 and 1899. She even earned a special certificate to teach art in 1899. After art school, Eileen worked as a governess in County Tipperary. She taught two young girls there.

Eileen Barnes' Career at the Museum

Eileen Barnes spent most of her career working at the National Museum of Ireland. She worked in the natural history and antiques sections. She helped famous scientists like Robert Lloyd Praeger (a naturalist) and Matilda Knowles (a botanist). Eileen also made amazing models for the museum's displays.

Her work at the Natural History Museum in Dublin started around 1907. She first donated models of platypus eggs. By 1909, she was busy setting up museum exhibits. She built models of natural places where animals live. She also made wax models of plants and animals. Many of the displays you can still see today, like the rock pool and mammal exhibits, are thought to be her work.

Illustrating for Scientists

Eileen was a skilled illustrator. She drew sea creatures called cephalopods for scientist Annie Massy. These drawings included creatures found during a big British expedition to Antarctica from 1910 to 1913.

She also drew for Jane Stephens, an expert on sponges. Eileen's drawings appeared in many of Jane's books. She even illustrated tiny sea organisms called Foraminifera for a project called the Clare Island Survey.

Scientists really admired Eileen's work. Robert Lloyd Praeger even named a plant after her! It's called Sedum barnesianum. Her drawings of sedums (stonecrops) and sempervivums (house leeks) are still highly valued today.

Other Important Work

Eileen Barnes also worked with Robert Francis Scharff. They helped put together and draw parts of the Giant Irish deer. This was a huge deer that lived long ago in Ireland.

She also helped the Geological Survey of Ireland with map-making. She even restored old objects from the Royal Irish Academy. Eileen also assisted Mary Eily de Putron when Mary worked at the museum.

Eileen was a member of the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club starting in 1913. She collected plant specimens, including lichen. One of her lichen specimens can be found in the herbarium at the National Botanic Gardens (Ireland).

Later Life and Legacy

Eileen Barnes retired from her museum work after March 1947. However, she continued to help restore old objects for the museum into the 1950s.

She lived with her mother and siblings for many years. Eileen passed away in 1956. She was buried next to her siblings, Herbert and Edith. Eileen Barnes' detailed and beautiful artwork continues to teach people about Ireland's natural world.