Susanna Drury
Encyclopedia
Susanna Drury, later Susanna Warter (c. 1698 – c. 1770) was an Irish
painter
. Though little is known of her life or work, she was very influential in the development of Irish landscape painting
. She is chiefly noted for her watercolor drawings of the Giant's Causeway
in County Antrim
, which brought international attention to the site.
(later the Royal Dublin Society), which presented her with its first award in 1740 for her paintings of the Giant's Causeway
. She had traveled to Ulster
to observe the site firsthand, and spent several months there working. Her drawings are composed of gouache
on vellum
and present two views of the Causeway from the east and west. The paintings brought attention to the formation, and the popularity of Irish monument paintings boomed in their wake. Engraving
s were made between 1743 and 1744 and spread throughout Europe; in 1765 an entry for the Causeway appeared in volume 12 of the French Encyclopédie
which clearly relied on them. The engraving of Drury's "East Prospect" itself later appeared unattributed in a volume of plates published for the Encyclopédie. It was included in the geology section along with two other plates depicting similar basalt formations in France, and included a caption by Nicolas Desmarest
proposing, for the first time in print, that the structures were volcanic in origin.
Drury married a man named Warter and died in or after 1770. Her original gouache drawings of the Giant's Causeway now hang in the Ulster Museum
in Belfast
.
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...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. Though little is known of her life or work, she was very influential in the development of Irish landscape painting
Landscape art
Landscape art is a term that covers the depiction of natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests, and especially art where the main subject is a wide view, with its elements arranged into a coherent composition. In other works landscape backgrounds for figures can still...
. She is chiefly noted for her watercolor drawings of the Giant's Causeway
Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. It is located in County Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles northeast of the town of Bushmills...
in County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, which brought international attention to the site.
Life
Drury was born around 1698. She was associated with the Dublin SocietyRoyal Dublin Society
The Royal Dublin Society was founded on 25 June 1731 to "to promote and develop agriculture, arts, industry, and science in Ireland". The RDS is synonymous with its main premises in Ballsbridge in Dublin, Ireland...
(later the Royal Dublin Society), which presented her with its first award in 1740 for her paintings of the Giant's Causeway
Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. It is located in County Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles northeast of the town of Bushmills...
. She had traveled to Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
to observe the site firsthand, and spent several months there working. Her drawings are composed of gouache
Gouache
Gouache[p], also spelled guache, the name of which derives from the Italian guazzo, water paint, splash or bodycolor is a type of paint consisting of pigment suspended in water. A binding agent, usually gum arabic, is also present, just as in watercolor...
on vellum
Vellum
Vellum is mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on, to produce single pages, scrolls, codices or books. It is generally smooth and durable, although there are great variations depending on preparation, the quality of the skin and the type of animal used...
and present two views of the Causeway from the east and west. The paintings brought attention to the formation, and the popularity of Irish monument paintings boomed in their wake. Engraving
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
s were made between 1743 and 1744 and spread throughout Europe; in 1765 an entry for the Causeway appeared in volume 12 of the French Encyclopédie
Encyclopédie
Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers was a general encyclopedia published in France between 1751 and 1772, with later supplements, revised editions, and translations. It was edited by Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert...
which clearly relied on them. The engraving of Drury's "East Prospect" itself later appeared unattributed in a volume of plates published for the Encyclopédie. It was included in the geology section along with two other plates depicting similar basalt formations in France, and included a caption by Nicolas Desmarest
Nicolas Desmarest
Nicolas Desmarest was a French geologist.Desmarest was born at Soulaines, in the department of Aube. Of humble parentage, he was educated at the college of the Oratorians of Troyes and Paris. Taking full advantage of the instruction he received, he was able to support himself by teaching, and to...
proposing, for the first time in print, that the structures were volcanic in origin.
Drury married a man named Warter and died in or after 1770. Her original gouache drawings of the Giant's Causeway now hang in the Ulster Museum
Ulster Museum
The Ulster Museum, located in the Botanic Gardens in Belfast, has around 8,000 square metres of public display space, featuring material from the collections of fine art and applied art, archaeology, ethnography, treasures from the Spanish Armada, local history, numismatics, industrial...
in Belfast
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...
.