Harriet Kirkwood facts for kids

Grace Harriet Sara Kirkwood (born Jameson; 28 September 1880 – 20 June 1953) was an important Irish artist. She was especially known for her beautiful paintings of landscapes and everyday objects, called still life paintings.

Early Life and Art Training

Grace Harriet Sara Jameson was born in Sutton, Dublin, Ireland. Her father, Andrew Jameson, was involved with the famous Jameson Irish Whiskey company. She was one of three daughters.

Harriet loved art from a young age. She began her art studies with an artist named Mary Manning. Later, she attended the Metropolitan School of Art in Dublin from 1908 to 1909.

Marriage and Travel

On 4 March 1910, Harriet married Major Thomas William Kirkwood. Her husband was very supportive of her art. He encouraged her to keep painting and learning.

In 1913, Harriet and Thomas lived in Russia for a short time. While there, she continued her art education, taking painting lessons from Ilya Mashkov in Moscow. When they returned to Dublin, she went back to the Metropolitan School of Art. She also studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in London from 1919 to 1920.

Artistic Connections and Friendships

Harriet's family, the Jamesons, were good friends with the famous Yeats family. John Butler Yeats, a well-known painter, even painted many portraits of the Jameson family. He also encouraged Harriet in her own painting.

Harriet continued these friendships with other artists. She often invited many famous artists of her time to her home in Collinstown Park, Clondalkin. She was very close friends with two important Irish artists, Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone.

Studying in Paris

Following the example of her friends, Harriet traveled to Paris to study art. She learned from a famous artist named André Lhote. Harriet was one of six artists who studied with Lhote and later showed their work together at the Contemporary Pictures Gallery in Dublin.

Leading the Dublin Painters

From 1922, Harriet Kirkwood was a very active member of the Society of Dublin Painters. This group was important for artists in Ireland. She first showed her landscape paintings with them in 1930.

Harriet took on leadership roles in the Society. In 1930, she became their secretary, helping to manage the group. By 1936, she was elected president of the Society.

Supporting Other Artists

As president, Harriet was a great supporter of other artists. In 1938, Seán T. O'Kelly, a notable Irish politician, opened one of the Society's art shows. He praised the artists for their unique style and for being independent from traditional art schools. One artist, Edward McGuire, started painting because Harriet suggested it to him.

Harriet served as the Society's president until 1948. She also collected art from other Irish artists of her time, showing her dedication to the art community.

Later Exhibitions and Legacy

Harriet Kirkwood continued to show her paintings with the Society of Dublin Painters until 1953. Her work was also regularly featured at the Irish Exhibition of Living Art starting in 1943. In 1944 and 1945, she exhibited with the Water Colour Society of Ireland.

Today, the National Gallery of Ireland holds two of her paintings: Still-life with fruit and flowers (painted in 1940) and a portrait of Dr. George Furlong. In 1966, her husband gave one of her watercolor paintings to Trinity College Dublin.

Harriet Kirkwood passed away at her home in Clondalkin on 20 June 1953. Her funeral was held at Ardcarne church in Boyle, County Roscommon.