Nesta Fitzgerald’s new exhibition is a celebration of Ireland’s heritage sites …
Who or what was pivotal to your love of art?
My dad, the Knight of Glin, was fundamental to my passion for creating. He was a pioneering art historian and his deep knowledge of Irish painting, furniture and the decorative arts – which I learned about directly from him and also through his amazing books, such as Ireland’s Painters – started me on my journey. The saturated colours of the rooms at Glin Castle where I grew up inspired my palette and love of Ireland’s rich architectural heritage.
Ballyfin Tower.
You studied art history and have a Masters degree in illustration. Has architecture always been your favourite subject matter?
I remember in art college being encouraged to go around with a sketchbook constantly, drawing whatever caught my eye. While I’ve worked across several fields, architecture has always been my preferred subject as I find it an endlessly rich source of inspiration. Buildings – whatever shape, date or form – tell a story about a particular time and place in history. Buildings evolve too and recording their appearance is part of their ongoing story.
Walking up Croagh Patrick.
“Festive Ireland” follows on from the success of your recent exhibition “Dublin Facades”. Can you tell us about the works in your new exhibition?
The exhibition features eight large illustrations of Dublin’s extraordinary architecture, mostly Georgian but also from later periods. Some are familiar, others less so. I include the Four Courts that retains its original purpose and the Powerscourt Townhouse that’s been successfully readapted to retail, but also Aldborough House that’s shamefully been left to rot when a new use really should be found for it.
Rather different is my drawing of the Iveagh play centre that relates to a series celebrating the architectural legacy of the Guinness family. I was honoured when these were acquired recently by the State and they will shortly go on display at Farmleigh House in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.
The exhibition also features eight smaller illustrations of unusual Irish follies, often with great stories attached, such as the Jealous Wall in Co Westmeath and the Tower at Ballyfin in Co Laois. There are also illustrations of people elebrating the solstice at Newgrange in Co Meath, having seaweed baths at Doolin in Co Clare, and hiking up the Rock of Cashel in Co Tipperary.
Iveagh Market.
Have you any favourite buildings that you like to draw or return to?
At the moment, I’m drawing streetscapes around Francis Street and into the Coombe in Dublin. I’m also fascinated by the architecture of Jervis Street, such as the wonderful late Victorian Penneys building that was originally the Todd Burns Department store. Another favourite is the City Assembly House, magnificently restored by the Irish Georgian Society on South William Street. I can also spend hours at a time in the National Gallery of Ireland – just looking.
Doolin Seaweed Baths.
How and where do you work?
I generally work from my home in Sandymount in Dublin, but I take inspiration from the city. I spend days exploring and will walk past a building, be struck by its beauty, go home and research its history, then return to draw it.
A drawing can take about two weeks to bring to completion. It depends on the size and detail of the building, and what it is that I have decided to take an interest in. I use the website of the National Built Heritage Service and consult books to establish the stories of the buildings I draw. I also take inspiration from the work of earlier artists who have recorded Ireland’s build heritage such as Flora Mitchell. She was from Nebraska in the US, but ended up here when her father got a job in the Jameson Distillery. She drew the most wonderfully evocative images of decaying Dublin – much of which has since vanished. A couple of years ago, I completed a series of works updating the famous 18th-century views of Dublin by James Malton. But inspiration comes primarily from the streets.
Powerscourt Townhouse.
Need to know: Nesta FitzGerald’s “Festive Ireland” runs from May 1-15 in O’Sullivan Antiques, 44 Francis Street, The Liberties, Dublin 8. Opening hours are from 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday; www.osullivanantiques.com @nestafitzgerald
SEE MORE: Artistic License – Colleen Fitzpatrick
