Leo Whelan facts for kids
Leo Whelan (born January 10, 1892 – died November 6, 1956) was a famous Irish painter. He was a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA), which is a group of important artists in Ireland. His artwork was even shown at the 1932 Summer Olympics in a special art competition.
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Leo Whelan's Early Life and Training
Leo Whelan was born in Dublin, Ireland. He went to school at Belvedere College. After that, he studied art at the Metropolitan School of Art. There, he learned from a well-known painter named William Orpen.
Becoming a Professional Artist
Whelan showed his paintings for the first time at the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1911. This was a big step for him as a young artist. Five years later, in 1916, he won the Taylor Art Scholarship. This scholarship helped him continue his art studies.
He was a very busy artist. From 1911 until he passed away in 1956, he showed almost 250 paintings at the RHA. That's a lot of artwork!
Famous Paintings and Projects
Leo Whelan was known for painting portraits of important people. He painted many leaders and members of the Irish Republican Army. These were people who played a big part in Ireland's history. Some of the famous people he painted included General Richard Mulcahy and Michael Collins.
He also designed the very first special stamp for the Irish Free State. This was the new name for Ireland after it became independent. The stamp was made in 1929 to celebrate 100 years since Catholic people in Ireland gained more rights. It showed a picture of Daniel O'Connell, a famous Irish leader.
Friends and Legacy
One of Leo Whelan's closest friends was the famous singer John McCormack. John McCormack tried to convince Leo to move to the United States, but Leo decided to stay in Ireland.
Leo Whelan's paintings are still important today. They help us remember key figures and moments in Irish history through art.
