Tuesday 8 April 1924

ROYAL HIBERNIAN ACADEMY
Some Striking Pictures
‘The exhibition of the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts opens this afternoon at the Metropolitan School of Art, Kildare Street, Dublin. This year’s collection consists of 293 pictures of which 160 are in oils and nine statuary works. Orpen, Kelly, Leach and some other usual exhibitors are not represented.

Taking the oils, one is struck by the absence of figure painting. There are landscapes and portraits in plenty, from good to possible, but the canvases in which the human figure is seriously attempted can be counted easily on the fingers of one hand.

Speaking generally, the exhibition is modern art, but without any representation of the cubist or impressionist cult. The old-fashioned style of straight, honest drawing and painting is represented by some of the most pleasing pictures on the walls. There is very little, indeed, that one can describe as native art, Irish in feeling and in atmosphere…

…There is nothing more generally pleasing in the exhibition than the portrait of Mrs. Dames Longworth by Mr. Leo Whelan, the latest Academician. It is a charming picture. The gown is very skilfully painted, strong in contrast, and fine in colour. His portrait of the Provost of Trinity College is also an excellent picture of the subject, carefully painted, but the white of the robes is not white enough, while the black is almost shabby.’

(Extract from The Irish Times, 7 April 1924, p4)

Tuesday 8 April 1924

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Portraiture – A Warning

‘Sir, - The attention of the Committee of the Cork School of Art has been drawn to the fact that certain persons are canvassing in the vicinity of the city, for orders for coloured enlargements from photographs, on the ostensible understanding that such work emanates from this School.

I have been directed to warn the public against this suggestion, and to state that no such work is executed in the School or by any member of its staff.

Yours truly, F.B. GILTINAN, Secretary.’ (Extract from Cork Examiner, 8 April 1924, p7)