User:Isabella Hughes/sandbox

Selective Works
Famous Irish artist, George Collie is best known for his oil paintings, varying from portraits of famous Irish leaders, such as Eamon de Valera, to still frames such as “Still life with chrysanthemums and silver cup.” Many of these pieces are now being sold at auctions to commemorate his legacy and show appreciation for his art. As well as these pieces he created religious works, such as the stations of the cross, and was even commissioned to work for the cathedral in Cavan and the church of St. Brigid in Killester, County Dublin. Although now he is a renowned Irish artist, Collie was first recognized for his art when he won the Taylor scholarship in 1927 for his social realist subject painting "The midday meal."

“The midday meal” is an oil painting on a wood panel that depicts men who are eating together in a Union dining hall in Dublin, the men look as though they are not long off their feet and their tired faces give the onlooker insight into what they must be feeling. Although the union hall is usually considered a place of conformity and coming together, few men are actually seen together in the photo, most are primarily concerned with the food. It stands out in Collie's work as it juxtaposes his usual contemporary pieces of Ireland's social life, as the piece is a depiction of urban poverty and lower-class members of Irish society. “The portrait of a seated bishop” is another of Collies oil paintings, this piece is done on an unlined canvas and shows a man on a seat wearing a black and red Chimere and Golden cross on a dainty chain. Collie's portraits are what he is best known for, he painted portraits of many leading Irish figures, such as, Eamon de Valera, Padraig Pearse and Liam Cosgrave. As mentioned in the opening paragraph, Collie was often commissioned to do religious pieces for different churches across Ireland. So this piece is a beautiful display of both Collie's ability to portray his subject so lifelike in a portrait as well as his religiosity and commemoration to the church.

References:
 * 1) –https://www.whytes.ie/art/still-life-with-chrysanthemums-and-silver-cup/135274/
 * 2) –Francis Clarke, 2009, Dictionary of Irish Biography -“Collie, George Joseph”.
 * 3) –NA, 2016, National Gallery of ireland- Online collection
 * 4) –George Collie auction results at Whyte's Art Auctions
 * 5) –Theo Snoody,2002, Dictionary of Irish Artists, 2nd Edition, location: Shelf 709.415, SNO, James Joyce Library, UCD
 * 6) -Invaluable.com, Lot 1268: George Collie, Portrait of a seated bishop