Thomas Kirk (sculptor)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Kirk was a noted Irish
sculptor.
He was born in Cork
. He studied at the Dublin Society's
School where he won prizes in 1797 and 1800. He later worked for Henry Darley, a skillful builder and stone-cutter from Meath
, based in Abbey Street
, Dublin. Kirk was acclaimed for his fine relief work on mantle-pieces and monuments. Much of his work can be seen in the Royal College of Surgeons
, the Royal Dublin Society
and in the library of Trinity College, Dublin
. He worked on committees in the Royal Dublin Society and he was a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy
.
He executed numerous church memorials throughout the country. His favourite relief was one of the Good Samaritan, which was well suited for memorials to either doctors or clergymen.
One of his earliest commissions, which appeared in 1809, was the statue of Nelson for Nelson's Pillar
in O’Connell Street, Dublin. This monument was destroyed by an explosion on March 8, 1966. Another of Kirk’s commissions was the statue, in Limerick City, of Thomas Spring Rice, a former MP and Chancellor of the Exchequer.
He died in 1845 and is interred in Mount Jerome Cemetery
, Dublin. His sons, Joseph Robinson Kirk
(1821-1894) and William Boyston Kirk (1824-1900), daughter Eliza Kirk (b. 1812) and grandson Thomas Stewart Kirk (1848-1879) were also sculptors. His eldest daughter Mary Anne was a Greek scholar and accomplished musician.
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...
sculptor.
He was born in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. He studied at the Dublin Society's
Royal 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...
School where he won prizes in 1797 and 1800. He later worked for Henry Darley, a skillful builder and stone-cutter from Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
, based in Abbey Street
Abbey Street
Abbey Street is located on Dublin's Northside and is one of the principal shopping streets of Dublin, running from the Customs House in the east to Capel Street in the west...
, Dublin. Kirk was acclaimed for his fine relief work on mantle-pieces and monuments. Much of his work can be seen in the Royal College of Surgeons
Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...
, the Royal Dublin Society
Royal 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...
and in the library of Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. He worked on committees in the Royal Dublin Society and he was a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy
Royal Hibernian Academy
The Royal Hibernian Academy is an artist-based and artist-oriented institution in Ireland, founded in Dublin in 1823.-History:The RHA was founded as the result of 30 Irish artists petitioning the government for a charter of incorporation...
.
One of his earliest commissions, which appeared in 1809, was the statue of Nelson for Nelson's Pillar
Nelson's Pillar
The Nelson Pillar , known locally as Nelson's Pillar or simply The Pillar, was a large granite pillar topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson in the middle of O'Connell Street, Dublin...
in O’Connell Street, Dublin. This monument was destroyed by an explosion on March 8, 1966. Another of Kirk’s commissions was the statue, in Limerick City, of Thomas Spring Rice, a former MP and Chancellor of the Exchequer.
He died in 1845 and is interred in Mount Jerome Cemetery
Mount Jerome Cemetery
Mount Jerome Cemetery is situated in Harold's Cross on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. Since its foundation in 1836, it has witnessed over 300,000 burials...
, Dublin. His sons, Joseph Robinson Kirk
Joseph Robinson Kirk
Joseph Robinson Kirk was a noted Irish sculptor.He was born in Dublin, the eldest son of Thomas Kirk. He lived in Jervis Street and studied with his father and at the Dublin Society's School.He became master of the RDS modelling school in 1852 and in 1854 he became a member of the Royal Hibernian...
(1821-1894) and William Boyston Kirk (1824-1900), daughter Eliza Kirk (b. 1812) and grandson Thomas Stewart Kirk (1848-1879) were also sculptors. His eldest daughter Mary Anne was a Greek scholar and accomplished musician.
Select list of memorials
- Jane Vernon (née Kingsbury, wife of Reverend George Vernon, Rector of CarlowCarlowCarlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
, died 1827 aged 29) in St. Mary's church, Carlow. Kirk's relief shows the poor and the young of Carlow mourning her. To the left are the tools of Jane Vernon's accomplishments: a harp, an easel and a sculptor's chisel. - Nathaniel Sneyd (died 1833), had two memorials, one in CavanCavanCavan is the county town of County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. The town lies in the north central part of Ireland, near the border with Northern Ireland...
and one in the crypt of Christ Church Cathedral, DublinChrist Church Cathedral, DublinChrist Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the cathedral of the Ecclesiastical province of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel in the Church of Ireland...
, where Sneyd is represented lying dead with a female figure weeping over him.
- Rev. Joseph Storey (d. 1838) in Cavan.
- Rev. George Hill (d. 1837) at ComberComberComber is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies 5 miles south of Newtownards, at the northern end of Strangford Lough. It had a population of 8,933 people in the 2001 Census. Comber is part of the Borough of Ards...
, County DownCounty Down-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
. - Several memorials in St. Ann's ChurchSt. Ann's Church, Dawson StreetSt. Ann's Church, Dawson Street, in Dublin, Ireland, was built in the early 18th century following the establishment of the Anglican parish in 1707. In the early 21st century the church presents itself as ecumenical within the tradition of the Church of Ireland.-Building history:The building of the...
, Dublin. - John Chambers (d. 1800), in St. George's churchSt. George's Church, DublinSt. George's Church is a former parish church in Dublin, Ireland, designed by Francis Johnston, which is considered to be one of his finest works. It is located at Hardwicke Place, just north of the city centre. The elegant spire, high, became a landmark of the north inner city.-The...
, Dublin. - Thomas Abbott (d. 1837) in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.
- Sir John Andrew StevensonJohn Stevenson (composer)Sir John Andrew Stevenson was an Irish composer of classical music. He is best known for his publications of Irish Melodies with poet Thomas Moore...
(died 1833). In 1843, a marble cenotaphCenotaphA cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
sculpted by Kirk was erected in the Musicians Corner at Christ Church Cathedral. His monument has a bust and a single choirboy. Originally there were two choir boys, but the sculptor found such difficulty in extracting payment for his work that he removed the second one. - Dr. Spray (d.1827), in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
- Thomas Ball (d.1826), in St. Patrick's Cathedral.
- Rev. Thomas Clarke and others in the Pro-CathedralSt Mary's Pro-CathedralSt Mary's Church , known also as St Mary's Pro-Cathedral or simply the Pro-Cathedral, is a pro-cathedral and is the episcopal seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland.-Status as "pro-cathedral":...
, Dublin.