Bernard Mulrenin Explained

Bernard Mulrenin
Birth Date:1803
Birth Place:County Sligo,[1] [2] Ireland
Death Place:Great Brunswick Street, Dublin, Ireland[3]
Resting Place:St. Andrew's Church, Westland Row, Dublin[4]
Nationality:Irish
Elected:Royal Hibernian Academy[5]
Field:Painting (miniature)
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Bernard Mulrenin, (1803 – 22 March 1868) was an Irish painter best known for his miniatures.

He is associated with the early Celtic Revival movement,[6] [7] and is remembered for his leadership and frequent exhibitions at the Royal Hibernian Academy. The subjects of Mulrenin's portraiture include individuals connected to Irish Nationalism, both Protestant and Catholic.

Biography

Mulrenin was born in County Sligo, Ireland. He developed his techniques for illustration and painting with the support of his local community, practicing primarily in portrait miniatures. To supplement his work as a painter, Mulrenin found employment with the Ordnance Survey in Ireland.

In 1825, Mulrenin moved to Dublin. Within the year, he was able to exhibit a selection of his works at the newly-established Royal Hibernian Academy. An early friend and patron of Mulrenin's in Dublin was the novelist Lady Morgan,[8] who introduced Mulrenin to politicians and creatives including Amelia Curran,[9] Lord Charlemont, Thomas Moore, Richard Lalor Sheil, and Chief Baron Woulfe.[10] In the 1830s, Mulrenin experienced continued growth in his business, especially after the death of John Comerford in 1832 and the relocation of Samuel Lover to London in 1835,[11] since both men were viewed as Ireland's preeminent miniaturists.[12]

Mulrenin received a court appointment from the Earl of Clarendon in 1848,[13] and his first exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1851.[14] Nevertheless, he remained loyal to the RHA, exhibiting over 400 works in his lifetime.[15] External pressures on public buying power, such as the Great Famine, however, led the academy to a financial crisis in the 1850s. In March 1856, Michael Angelo Hayes was elected secretary and, with the support of the president Martin Cregan and the treasurer Joseph Kirk, pressed for reform. Mulrenin and his colleague Mulvany resisted these measures, and in December 1856, the academy elected Mulrenin and George Petrie in place of Hayes and Cregan, respectively.[16] [17] The election was disputed, and appeals for resolution were made to Lord Lieutenant George Howard, but he did not intervene. The school was closed temporarily the following year.[18]

In 1859, Mulrenin read a paper before the Royal Dublin Society's fine arts section (which included the Photographic Society of Ireland). In the speech, Mulrenin argued that photography could be used as an aide, instead of a replacement, to portrait painting.[19] He claimed to have devised a process of transferring negatives to marble and ivory, rendering the image like a miniature painting.[20] In 1864, Mulrenin's portrait of Oscar Wilde's mother exhibited at the RHA.[21] He was a witness for the Wilde's defense in the libel case brought against them by Mary Travers.[22]

Works in collections

Selected portraits

Works sorted alphabetically by surname
PortraitSubjectDateMedium(s)InstitutionProfessionNotesRef.
George EnsorlithographNational Library of Irelandauthorstyle=text-align:center[25]
John HogancharcoalNational Gallery of Irelandsculptorpurchased: 1878style=text-align:center[26]
Daniel O'Connell1836watercolourbodycolourNational Portrait Gallerypoliticianstyle=text-align:center[27]
Charles O'ConorwatercolourNational Gallery of Irelandhistorianstyle=text-align:center[28]
Lord PagetlithographNational Gallery of Irelandpoliticianpresented: 1901;uncertain attributionstyle=text-align:center[29]
George PetrieoilNational Gallery of Irelandantiquarianpresented: 1884style=text-align:center[30]
Marie Taglioni1834lithographwatercolourVictoria and Albert Museumballerinastyle=text-align:center[31]
Jane Wilde1864watercolourpersonal archives:Merlin Holland[32] poetstyle=text-align:center[33]

Other notable subjects

Scientists and Academics

Politicians and Nobility

Other

Though he preferred to depict his contemporaries, Mulrenin also drew inspiration from non-historical figures, such as Shakespeare's King Lear and the mythological Fionn-ghuala, daughter of the sea god Lir.[38] [39]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: McTernan, John C. . Historic Sligo: A Bibliographical Introduction to ... County Sligo . Yeats Country Publications . . 1965 . 9 June 2022.
  2. Book: . . Catalogue of Pictures and Other Works of Art in the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, Ireland . Alex Thom & Co. . 101 . 1904 . 9 June 2022.
  3. Godwin . George . George Godwin . . The Dead Year . Publishing Office at 1 York Street, Covent Garden, W.C. . . 27 . 25 . 1869 . 9 June 2022.
  4. Web site: Libraries and Archive - Heritage Databases . . Dublin City Council . . 11 June 2022.
  5. . Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin: Report of the Council for 1867-68 . Science and Art Department of the Committee of Council on Education . . . 16 . 445 . 1869 . 12 June 2022.
  6. Web site: 1980 National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin; exh: "The Early Celtic Revival." . Sheehy . Jeanne . Jeanne Sheehy . . . . 1980 . 12 June 2022.
  7. Web site: Fine Arts in the Celtic Revival . Ringel-Ensley . Meredith . . 2007 . 2016 . 12 June 2022.
  8. News: . Death of Bernard Mulrenin. M.R.H.A. . subscription . . . 510 . 28 March 1868 . 9 June 2022.
  9. Encyclopedia: Clarke . Frances . Curran, Amelia . . . 2009 . 10.3318/dib.002315.v1.
  10. Mew . Edward . Dublin Places and Persons . subscription . Irish Jesuit Province . . 3 . 655 . 1875 . 20501702 . 9 June 2022.
  11. Encyclopedia: Caffrey . Paul . Lover, Samuel . . . 2009 . 10.3318/dib.004892.v1.
  12. Book: Williamson . George Charles . G. C. Williamson . Williams . Alyn . How to Identify Portrait Miniatures . . 83–84 . 1904 . 1436633737.
  13. Moore . Desmond F. . The Royal Hibernian Academy . subscription . . . 21 . 1 . 35 . 1966 . 30104289 . 6 June 2022.
  14. Book: Foster, Joshua James . Miniature Painters, British and Foreign: With Some Account of Those who Practised in America in the Eighteenth Century, Vol. II . 1903 . . London. 145 . 9 June 2022.
  15. Stewart. Ann. Alf MacLochlainn. Biographical information on Bernard Mulrenin. 21 February 1992. https://www.sourcenationalgallery.ie/collection/calm-r8690. NGI

    Centre for the Study of Irish Art

    . 15 June 2022. IE NGI/IA/MUL1/1/2/2.
  16. Thom . Alexander . Alexander Thom (almanac editor) . Royal Hibernian Academy of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, Lower Abbey-Street . . Alexander Thom and Sons . . v ; 634 . 1857 . 9 June 2022.
  17. Encyclopedia: Minch . Rebecca . Hayes, Michael Angelo . . . 2013 . 10.3318/dib.003875.v1.
  18. Turpin . John . The RHA Schools 1826-1906 . subscription . Irish Arts Review Yearbook, (1991/1992) . 1991 . Irish Arts Review . . 199 . 20492690 . 9 June 2022.
  19. Mulrenin . Bernard . On a Process by which Photographic Portraits may be transcribed into bonda fide Miniature Paintings on Marble, Ivory, and other Surfaces . The Journal of the Royal Dublin Society . 2 . . . 1860.
  20. Encyclopedia: Hannavy . John . Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography: Volume 1, A-I . Ireland . . London . 751 . 978-1135873264 . 2013 . 12 June 2022.
  21. Book: Sloan, John . Authors in Context: Oscar Wilde . 9780191587597 . . . 2 . 2003 . 9 June 2022.
  22. News: . The Extraordinary Libel Case in Dublin . . . 3 . 1864 . 12 June 2022.
  23. Mulrenin . Bernard . Brown . G. . Medal . https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_BNK-EngM-434 . BNK,EngM.434 . Coins and Medals . . 1837 . 15 June 2022.
  24. Mulrenin . Bernard . Lady Jane Francesca Elgee Wilde, circa 1850s; William Wilde, circa 1846 . Oscar Wilde: An Inventory of His Art Collection at the Harry Ransom Center . https://norman.hrc.utexas.edu/fasearch/pdf/01298.pdf . Harry Ransom Center . Wilde, O., Box 1 . Flat Files . Series II. Other Portraits, 1840s-1870s . 65.78.2a; 65.78.3a . 9 June 2022.
  25. Mulrenin. Bernard. Bernard Mulrenin. George Ensor. https://digital.nli.ie/Record/vtls000289280. EP ENSO-GE (2) II. National Library of Ireland. Prints & Drawings. graphic. bet. 1820 and 1843.
  26. Mulrenin. Bernard. Bernard Mulrenin. John Hogan (1800-1858), Sculptor. http://onlinecollection.nationalgallery.ie/objects/6213/john-hogan-18001858-sculptor?ctx=31d90be7-7e56-41b1-8560-decb58393860&idx=3. National Gallery of Ireland. Objects of: Bernard Mulrenin. http://onlinecollection.nationalgallery.ie/people/1839/bernard-mulrenin/objects. NGI.2197. graphic. Purchased, 1878.
  27. Mulrenin. Bernard. Bernard Mulrenin. Daniel O'Connell. https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait.php?LinkID=mp03348&page=1&rNo=2&role=sit. National Portrait Gallery. Primary Collection. https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/about/primary-collection/. NPG 208. graphic. 1836.
  28. Mulrenin. Bernard. Bernard Mulrenin. Charles O'Connor (1710-1791), Historian and Antiquary. http://onlinecollection.nationalgallery.ie/objects/6212/charles-oconnor-17101791-historian-and-antiquary?ctx=7251fd65-2984-44db-991c-2ce1b386e5ab&idx=2. National Gallery of Ireland. Objects of: Bernard Mulrenin. http://onlinecollection.nationalgallery.ie/people/1839/bernard-mulrenin/objects. NGI.2196. graphic. unknown.
  29. Mulrenin. Bernard. Bernard Mulrenin. Portrait of Henry William Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey (1768-1854), Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. http://onlinecollection.nationalgallery.ie/objects/1442/portrait-of-henry-william-paget-1st-marquess-of-anglesey-1?ctx=8e747928-f96a-48a5-bc42-0fdd79928e92&idx=1. NGI.11233. National Gallery of Ireland. Objects of: Bernard Mulrenin. graphic. presented 1901.
  30. Mulrenin. Bernard. Bernard Mulrenin. Portrait of George Petrie (1790-1866), Artist and Archaeologist. http://onlinecollection.nationalgallery.ie/objects/8209/portrait-of-george-petrie-17901866-artist-and-archaeolog?ctx=31d90be7-7e56-41b1-8560-decb58393860&idx=4. National Gallery of Ireland. Objects of: Bernard Mulrenin. http://onlinecollection.nationalgallery.ie/people/1839/bernard-mulrenin/objects. NGI.408. graphic. Presented, 1884.
  31. Mulrenin. Bernard. Bernard Mulrenin. Mademoiselle Taglioni. https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O106048/mademoiselle-taglioni-print-mulrenin-bernard/. Victoria and Albert Museum. Theatre and Performance Collection. https://collections.vam.ac.uk/search/?id_collection=THES48602. print. 1834.
  32. Book: Fitzsimons , Eleanor . Wilde's Women: How Oscar Wilde Was Shaped by the Women He Knew. ABRAMS, Incorporated (Ignition). New York City. 2. 2017. 9781468313260.
  33. Grant. Roger. Speranza's Visit to Scotland Summer 1847. subscription. Oscar Wilde Society. East Molesey, Surrey, UK. The Wildean. 46. 106. 2015. 46. 48571630. June 8, 2022.
  34. Book: Strickland, Walter . Walter G. Strickland . A Dictionary of Irish Artists: Vol. II, L to Z . . . 150⁠–152 . 1913 . 8 June 2022.
  35. Mulrenin . Bernard . Bernard Mulrenin . . Prints & Drawings: Irish Archaeologists . https://digital.nli.ie/Record/vtls000248044/HoldingsILS#tabnav . PD 4302 TX . graphic . . 7 June 2022.
  36. Book: Gaul, Liam . Johnstown Castle: A History . The History Press Ireland . . 2014 . 9780750959018.
  37. Encyclopedia: Clarke . Frances . Ball, Mary Teresa (Frances) . Royal Irish Academy. . 2009 . 10.3318/dib.000343.v1.
  38. Pérez . Marta Palacio . Renacimiento Irlandés: La Imagen de una Nación . Irish Renaissance: The Image of a Nation . Spanish . . 2014 . 12 June 2022.
  39. Book: Maclise, Daniel . Daniel Maclise . Murray . Peter . Daniel Maclise, 1806-1870: Romancing the Past . 130 . 9780948037665 . 2008. Crawford Art Gallery .

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