Patrick Tuohy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patrick Tuohy
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A crop from "Self Portrait With Two Girlfriends" (1922)
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| Born |
Patrick Joseph Tuohy
27 February 1894 |
| Died | 1930 (aged 35–36) New York City, United States
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| Nationality | Irish |
| Education | Dublin Metropolitan School of Art |
| Known for | Portrait painter |
Patrick Tuohy (born February 27, 1894 – died August 1930) was an Irish artist. He was known for painting portraits of people, as well as scenes from everyday life and stories.
Early Life and Training
Patrick Joseph Tuohy was born in Dublin, Ireland, on February 27, 1894. His father, John Joseph Tuohy, was a surgeon. His mother, Máire Tuohy, was involved in Irish nationalist groups like Cumann na mBan. Patrick had two older sisters, Maura and Bride.
Patrick was born without a left hand. He used a special metal hand that he covered with a black glove. He would often use it to hold his painting palette.
He went to a Christian Brothers school in Dublin. Later, he was one of the first students at Patrick Pearse's St. Enda's School. There, he studied art with William Pearse. In 1908, a watercolor sketch he made called "In Co. Wicklow" was printed in the school magazine.
Patrick also studied at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. He first went to night classes, then became a full-time student. He learned from the famous artist William Orpen for five years. Orpen encouraged him to practice drawing people. One of Patrick's early portraits, "Girl in a white pinafore," was painted in 1910.
During the Easter Rising, a major event in Irish history, Patrick and his father were involved. They were with James Connolly at the General Post Office in Dublin.
Artistic Career
In 1911, Patrick Tuohy showed three of his paintings at an exhibition in Dublin. Other famous artists like George Russell and Jack B. Yeats were also part of this show.
After spending a summer in County Mayo in 1911, he created sketches for his 1912 painting, "A Mayo peasant boy." This painting showed his skill in realistic portraits that captured human feelings.
His first big art job was in 1912. He was asked to paint 10 ceiling paintings about the life of Christ at Rathfarnham Castle. He also painted ceilings at the La Scala theatre in Dublin.
Patrick won the Taylor art scholarship in 1912 for his watercolor, "Supper time." He won the Taylor award again in 1915 for a watercolor portrait of May Power. She was a model he painted very often.
With the money from these awards, Patrick traveled to Spain. He lived in Madrid for a year, teaching painting at a convent. He also studied the works of Spanish masters like Francisco de Zurbarán and Diego Velázquez.
He began showing his art at the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) in 1918. He continued to exhibit there until 1927.
From 1920 to 1926, Patrick taught art classes at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. He taught many students who later became well-known artists themselves, including Norah McGuinness and Maurice MacGonigal.
One of his most important paintings is "The baptism of Christ" from 1923. This painting includes portraits of his friends, like Seán Keating as John the Baptist. It is now kept at the Ulster Museum. This painting won a silver medal in 1924.
In 1923, the famous writer James Joyce asked Patrick to paint a portrait of Joyce's father, John Stanislaus Joyce. Patrick also painted James Joyce himself in Paris in 1924. This portrait took 28 sittings! It is now at the State University of New York, Buffalo. He also painted Joyce's children, Giorgio and Lucia.
Patrick painted many actors and writers in the 1920s, such as Ria Mooney (1922) and Seán O'Casey (1926). In 1924, he became an associate of the RHA, and a full member in 1925.
In 1927, Patrick moved to the United States, hoping to earn more money. He lived in South Carolina and then in New York. He had a studio there and focused on painting portraits. He also helped organize the first exhibition of Irish art in New York in 1929.
Later Life and Legacy
Patrick Tuohy died unexpectedly in New York in August 1930. His body was brought back to Ireland and he was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. At the time of his death, he was working on portraits of actors Dudley Digges and Claudette Colbert.
After his death, an exhibition of his sketches, drawings, and paintings was held in Dublin in 1931. His early works, "The flight of Cuchulainn" and "Entry into battle," are held at the Hugh Lane Gallery. The National Gallery of Ireland holds many of his important papers.
Images for kids
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A crop from "Self Portrait With Two Girlfriends" (1922)
