John Dooley Reigh
Encyclopedia
John Dooley Reigh was a cartoonist
whose work generally supported Irish nationalism
. His birthplace is unknown, and little is known of his early life. He first emerged as an artist in Dublin. His cartoons were usually signed J.D. Reigh.
Reigh's work coincided with and celebrated the success of the Irish Parliamentary Party
under Charles Stewart Parnell
. Reigh's drawings were published in weekly magazines such as "Zoz", "United Ireland" and "The Nation"
, and were also sold individually as prints
.
His own success rested on his ability to render news in a simple format to a receptive public. Using chromolithography
allowed colour to be added, making his works more attractive and seen by buyers as modern products. Many of his works, particularly about the 1798 rebellion, are still reprinted as if they were drawn contemporaneously with the subject matter. Some of these are his versions of older paintings.
Many of Reigh's prints can be seen at the National Library of Ireland
.
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
whose work generally supported Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
. His birthplace is unknown, and little is known of his early life. He first emerged as an artist in Dublin. His cartoons were usually signed J.D. Reigh.
Reigh's work coincided with and celebrated the success of the Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
under Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell was an Irish landowner, nationalist political leader, land reform agitator, and the founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party...
. Reigh's drawings were published in weekly magazines such as "Zoz", "United Ireland" and "The Nation"
The Nation (Irish newspaper)
The Nation was an Irish nationalist weekly newspaper, published in the 19th century. The Nation was printed first at 12 Trinity Street, Dublin, on 15 October 1842, until 6 January 1844...
, and were also sold individually as prints
Printmaking
Printmaking is the process of making artworks by printing, normally on paper. Printmaking normally covers only the process of creating prints with an element of originality, rather than just being a photographic reproduction of a painting. Except in the case of monotyping, the process is capable...
.
His own success rested on his ability to render news in a simple format to a receptive public. Using chromolithography
Chromolithography
Chromolithography is a method for making multi-color prints. This type of color printing stemmed from the process of lithography, and it includes all types of lithography that are printed in color. When chromolithography is used to reproduce photographs, the term photochrom is frequently used...
allowed colour to be added, making his works more attractive and seen by buyers as modern products. Many of his works, particularly about the 1798 rebellion, are still reprinted as if they were drawn contemporaneously with the subject matter. Some of these are his versions of older paintings.
Many of Reigh's prints can be seen at the National Library of Ireland
National Library of Ireland
The National Library of Ireland is Ireland's national library located in Dublin, in a building designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism is the member of the Irish Government responsible for the library....
.
External links
- Collins Collection of Irish Political Cartoons, University of Illinois, which contains a number of cartoons by Reigh
Sources
- Lawrence W. McBride; "Nationalist Constructions of the 1798 Rebellion: The Political Illustrations of J. D. Reigh" (Éire-Ireland Vol. 34, No. 2)