Grace Henry facts for kids

Grace Henry (1868–1953) was a talented Scottish landscape artist. She spent a big part of her life painting in Ireland. Her art often showed beautiful outdoor scenes.

Early Life and Art Training

Grace Henry was born Emily Grace Mitchell on February 10, 1868. Her birthplace was Kirktown St. Fergus, near Peterhead, Scotland. She was one of ten children. Grace was taught at home. She also spent time in London, experiencing city life.

After her father passed away, Grace decided to become an artist. This was in 1895. Her first known art shows were in Aberdeen in 1896 and 1898. In 1899, she traveled to Europe. She studied art in Brussels at the Blanc‐Guerrins academy. Later, she attended the Delacluze academy in Paris. In Paris, she met Paul Henry, an Irish artist. They got married in London in September 1903.

Grace Henry's Artistic Journey

Grace and Paul Henry lived near London until 1910. A few of Grace's paintings from this time are known. One is The girl in white, which is in the Hugh Lane Gallery. This painting shows the influence of artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler. Grace met him in Paris through her husband.

In 1910, the couple visited Achill Island in Ireland. They planned to stay for two weeks but ended up living there until 1919. During this time, Grace painted many night scenes. One example is Achill cottages (Hugh Lane Gallery). Another famous work is Top of the hill. It shows a group of island women. This painting is in the Limerick City Gallery of Art. Living on the island was sometimes difficult for Grace.

The Henrys moved back to Dublin in 1919. In 1920, they helped start the Society of Dublin Painters. Other founding members included Letitia Marion Hamilton and Jack Butler Yeats. This society gave young Irish artists a place to show their work. Grace's paintings were shown at exhibitions in Paris in 1922 and Brussels in 1930.

Grace developed her unique painting style in the 1920s and 1930s. She spent time in France and Italy. From 1924 to 1925, she studied with André Lhote. He was a cubist painter. Grace painted in Venice and around the Italian lakes. She used a style called Fauvism. This style uses free brushwork and bright, bold colors. Grace also tried expressionism, which is about showing feelings. You can see this in her painting Spring in winter.

When World War II started, Grace returned to Ireland. She did not have a fixed home during these years. She stayed with friends or in hotels. Grace continued to show her art. Her work was often displayed at the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA). She also had solo shows at the Waddington and Dawson galleries. In 1949, she became an honorary member of the RHA.

Grace Henry's Lasting Impact

Grace Henry passed away in Dublin on August 11, 1953. She is buried at Mount Jerome Cemetery. For many years, people often saw her as "Mrs Paul Henry." Her husband's fame sometimes overshadowed her own. She was even left out of his autobiography.

However, in the 1970s, people started to look at her art again. This led to more public recognition for Grace. Her work was included in exhibitions, like The paintings of Paul and Grace Henry in 1991. Many now see her as a bolder painter than her husband. She used more modern art ideas in her work. An example is The long grey road of Disting (1915). Her popularity has continued to grow since her art was rediscovered.