Padraig Marrinan
Encyclopedia
Padraig Marrinan was an Irish painter. Also known as PH Marrinan or Patrick H Marrinan, he was born in Belfast
, Ireland
. He contracted poliomyelitis at the age of five years and for several years, he could not walk. Virtually self-taught as an artist, he was privately educated as his ailment prevented public schooling.
He named William Orpen
and John Lavery
as influences and also claimed American comic strip artist, Bud Fisher
as an important influence in his youth. His painting of a Belfast musician standing in a doorway, called "Ukulele Laddie" featured in a 1930 exhibition at the Ulster Academy of Arts and was praised by Hungarian artist, Philip de Laslo. In the 1934 exhibition, he won "Picture of the Year" for "The Apache".
Again, in 1950, he won "Picture of the Year" at the Royal Ulster Academy
for his painting called "Tinkers". He held his first solo exhibition in 1951 at the Donegal Place Gallery, the paintings displayed there showing a change of direction for Marrinan. The theme was the legends of Ireland, painted with sweeping, colourful evocations of folklore figures.
His 1934 charcoal drawing of Robert Johnson, an Irish Fenian
, is now placed in the National Gallery of Ireland
. He was commissioned to paint portraits of Éamonn Ceannt
and John F. Kennedy
by the Republic of Ireland's Department of Defence and the County Clare
association in London, respectively.
His ecclesiastical work includes "Our Lady of the Missions" and "The Madonna and Child of Loreto".
Literary portraits of Brian Friel
, Padraic Fiach and Joseph Tomelty
, as well as numerous portraits of his family and landscapes of Counties Clare, Antrim, Donegal and Kerry are held in private collections.
He married Phyllis Meyler in later life and lived in Omagh
, County Tyrone
, where he lived until his death.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He contracted poliomyelitis at the age of five years and for several years, he could not walk. Virtually self-taught as an artist, he was privately educated as his ailment prevented public schooling.
He named William Orpen
William Orpen
Major Sir William Newenham Montague Orpen, KBE, RA, RHA was an Irish portrait painter, who worked mainly in London...
and John Lavery
John Lavery
Sir John Lavery was an Irish painter best known for his portraits.Belfast-born John Lavery attended the Haldane Academy, in Glasgow, in the 1870s and the Académie Julian in Paris in the early 1880s. He returned to Glasgow and was associated with the Glasgow School...
as influences and also claimed American comic strip artist, Bud Fisher
Bud Fisher
Harry Conway "Bud" Fisher was an American cartoonist who created Mutt and Jeff, the first successful daily comic strip in the United States....
as an important influence in his youth. His painting of a Belfast musician standing in a doorway, called "Ukulele Laddie" featured in a 1930 exhibition at the Ulster Academy of Arts and was praised by Hungarian artist, Philip de Laslo. In the 1934 exhibition, he won "Picture of the Year" for "The Apache".
Again, in 1950, he won "Picture of the Year" at the Royal Ulster Academy
Royal Ulster Academy
The Royal Ulster Academy has existed in one form or another since 1879. It started life then, as The Belfast Ramblers' Sketching Club...
for his painting called "Tinkers". He held his first solo exhibition in 1951 at the Donegal Place Gallery, the paintings displayed there showing a change of direction for Marrinan. The theme was the legends of Ireland, painted with sweeping, colourful evocations of folklore figures.
His 1934 charcoal drawing of Robert Johnson, an Irish Fenian
Fenian
The Fenians , both the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood , were fraternal organisations dedicated to the establishment of an independent Irish Republic in the 19th and early 20th century. The name "Fenians" was first applied by John O'Mahony to the members of the Irish republican...
, is now placed in the National Gallery of Ireland
National Gallery of Ireland
The National Gallery of Ireland houses the Irish national collection of Irish and European art. It is located in the centre of Dublin with one entrance on Merrion Square, beside Leinster House, and another on Clare Street. It was founded in 1854 and opened its doors ten years later...
. He was commissioned to paint portraits of Éamonn Ceannt
Éamonn Ceannt
Éamonn Ceannt , born Edward Thomas Kent, was an Irish republican, mostly known for his role in the Easter Rising of 1916.-Background:...
and John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
by the Republic of Ireland's Department of Defence and the County Clare
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
association in London, respectively.
His ecclesiastical work includes "Our Lady of the Missions" and "The Madonna and Child of Loreto".
Literary portraits of Brian Friel
Brian Friel
Brian Friel is an Irish dramatist, author and director of the Field Day Theatre Company. He is considered to be the greatest living English-language dramatist, hailed by the English-speaking world as an "Irish Chekhov" and "the universally accented voice of Ireland"...
, Padraic Fiach and Joseph Tomelty
Joseph Tomelty
Joseph Tomelty was a Northern Irish character actor and playwright. He worked in film, television, radio and on the stage, starring in Sam Thompson's 1960 play Over the Bridge.-Early life:...
, as well as numerous portraits of his family and landscapes of Counties Clare, Antrim, Donegal and Kerry are held in private collections.
He married Phyllis Meyler in later life and lived in Omagh
Omagh
Omagh is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. The town, which is the largest in the county, had a population of 19,910 at the 2001 Census. Omagh also contains the headquarters of Omagh District Council and...
, County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, where he lived until his death.