Lilian Davidson facts for kids

Lilian Davidson (26 January 1879 – 29 March 1954) was an important Irish artist. She was known for her beautiful landscape and portrait paintings. Lilian was also a dedicated teacher and a talented writer.

Early Life and Art Education

Lilian Lucy Davidson was born in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland. Her birthday was January 26, 1879. She was one of ten children in her family. Her father, Edward Ellice Davidson, worked as a clerk.

Lilian attended the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art (DMSA). She studied there from 1895 to 1905. While at DMSA, she won several awards. In 1897, she received a scholarship and free studies at the Royal Dublin Society. She finished her art education in 1905.

Lilian Davidson's Art Career

Lilian Davidson started her art career early. In 1899, a department store called Switzer's asked her to draw costumes. She began showing her paintings in exhibitions.

Exhibitions and Artistic Style

From 1909 to 1920, Lilian showed her work at the Dublin Sketching Club. She also exhibited with the Water Colour Society of Ireland from 1912 until her death in 1954. She became a committee member of the society in 1934.

In 1914, Lilian's art was shown at the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) for the first time. Her painting The harbour, St Ives (1916) showed a bright style. This style was influenced by artists like Stanhope Forbes. It used strong colors and light, which became typical of her work.

Lilian also illustrated a book of funny poems. It was about the London Zoo and was called A zoovenir (1919).

Travel and New Influences

In 1920, Lilian had a joint art show with Mainie Jellett in Dublin. Jellett even drew a pencil portrait of Lilian.

Lilian's painting The flax pullers (1921) showed new influences. It used blocks of color, similar to Paul Henry and French Impressionism. In the early 1920s, Lilian traveled to Switzerland, Belgium, and France. She painted scenes like Fish market, Bruges.

She lived in Paris in the late 1920s. There, she exhibited her art in important shows. Lilian often painted ordinary people. This might have been because her own family was not wealthy. She showed these people in a kind and understanding way.

Later Artworks and Recognition

Lilian's art was displayed in many places. This included the Contemporary Picture Galleries in Dublin in 1930. Her work was shown alongside famous artists like Jack Butler Yeats, Evie Hone, and Harry Kernoff.

She was also a member of the Picture Hire Club. Her paintings were exhibited in Paris, London, and Amsterdam. Many of her 1930s paintings showed the Irish-speaking area of Galway, Claddagh. Examples include Night in Claddagh (1933).

From 1934, Lilian was part of the Society of Dublin Painters. She helped the group move towards more modern art in the 1940s. In 1940, she became an associate of the RHA. She continued to exhibit there until she passed away.

Teaching Art to Others

Lilian Davidson was also a dedicated art teacher. She taught drawing at her own studio in Dublin. Some of her students became well-known artists themselves. These included Bea Orpen, Anne Yeats, and Mo Irwin.

She also taught at several schools in Dublin. These included Belgrave school, Wesley College, and Castle Park School. She even traveled to Abbeyleix once a week to teach at Glenbawn boarding school.

Writing and Theatre Work

Besides painting, Lilian Davidson was a writer. She wrote plays, short stories, and monologues. She often used the pen name "Ulick Burke." In 1927, a collection of her poems was published.

In 1931, her play Bride was directed by Hilton Edwards at the Gate Theatre. She also had a short story published in The Bell magazine in 1942.

Lilian was a founder of the Torch Theatre, Dublin in 1935. She designed sets for plays. She was also a co-director with Hugh Hyland in 1936. For her theatre work, she used the stage name "Jennifer Maude."

Later Life and Artistic Legacy

Lilian Davidson passed away at her home in Dublin on March 29, 1954. She is buried in an unmarked grave at Mount Jerome Cemetery.

Her artwork is still admired today. The National Gallery of Ireland (NGI) owns her 1938 portrait of Yeats. They also have her drawing of Sarah Purser. The Abbey Theatre holds her portrait of Joseph Holloway. Lilian also gave her large self-portrait, The golden shawl, to the Hugh Lane Gallery.

In 1987, two of her paintings were part of an exhibition at the NGI. This show was called Irish Women Artists From the Eighteenth Century to the Present Day. It celebrated the work of Irish women artists throughout history.