Henry O'Neill (illustrator) facts for kids
Henry O'Neill (1798–1880) was an Irish artist and someone who studied old things, called an antiquarian. He is best known for his detailed drawings of ancient Irish crosses and Celtic art.
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Henry O'Neill's Life and Work
Henry O'Neill was born in Clonmel, Ireland. He lost both his parents when he was young. His sister, Sara O'Neill, who sold small sewing items, made sure he received a good education. From a young age, Henry showed a talent for drawing. In 1815, he became a student at the Dublin Society's Schools. He worked very hard and won top prizes in every class he entered.
Art and Irish Politics
Henry O'Neill supported popular movements in Ireland that wanted change. He was a member of the Repeal Association, a group that wanted to end British rule in Ireland. When a famous Irish leader, Daniel O'Connell, was in prison, O'Neill painted a picture of him and other prisoners. Later, he created well-known drawings, called lithographs, of other Irish leaders like Smith O'Brien.
Studying Ancient Ireland
In 1863, O'Neill published a book called "Fine Arts of Ancient Ireland." This book was about Ireland's old buildings and art. It included seven special color drawings by him. In this work, he shared his own ideas about ancient Irish buildings, like the famous Round Towers. He also wrote a short book in 1868 called "Ireland for the Irish," which talked about fairness for Irish people regarding land.
O'Neill planned a larger work about the Round Towers. Only the first part was published in 1877. It described the four Round Towers in County Dublin. His very last work was a lithograph of the important Cross of Cong. Henry O'Neill often showed his artwork at the Royal Hibernian Academy until 1879. Most of his pieces were water-colors, but he also painted in oils sometimes.
Henry O'Neill is most remembered for his lithographs that show Celtic art and crosses in Ireland. These were published in a book titled Illustrations of Some of the Most Interesting Sculptured Crosses of Ancient Ireland in 1859.
Remembering Henry O'Neill
Henry O'Neill died in 1880. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Glasnevin Cemetery. In 2016, a group of people came together to place a Celtic Cross on his grave. A special event was held on August 2, 2016, to dedicate this monument.
