Ronald Ossory Dunlop
Encyclopedia
Ronald Ossory Dunlop was an Irish
author and painter in oil of landscapes, seascapes, figure studies, portraits and still life.
Dunlop was born in Dublin, Ireland
. He studied at Manchester School of Art and in Paris
, having spent some time working in an advertising agency. He became a prolific exhibitor, venues including the RA, NEAC, Leicester and Redfern Galleries, RSA, RHA and the Glasgow Institute of Fine Art.
His first one man show (1928) was at the Redfern Gallery. In 1923 he had founded the Emotionist Group of writers and artists, and his own work is characterised by a painterly exuberance. Dunlop's work is in a number of public galleries, including the Tate
.
Most of his life was spent in England, latterly at Barnham, West Sussex
, close to Chichester
. He achieved fame in his lifetime, having been elected a full member of the Royal Academy
in 1950, and his work is instantly recognisable, as are the many fakes which have appeared on the market over the past thirty years or so!
Alex Fraser of Vancouver
was Dunlop's dealer in London and again later in Canada once Fraser had emigrated in the 1940s.
Dunlop's mother, Eleanor (née Fitzpatrick) was a watercolour artist and his father, Daniel Nicol Dunlop
(1868-1935), was a great friend of W. B. Yeats, James Stephens
and George Russell
, or ‘Æ’. Together Yeats, ‘Æ’ and Daniel Nicol Dunlop published The Irish Theosophist from the home of Eleanor’s father, the Shakespearean scholar R.H. Fitzpatrick.
Thus Dunlop grew up surrounded by the seminal figures of the Irish Literary Renaissance, in an atmosphere smacking of mysticism
and Spiritualism. The Dunlop family moved to New York
in 1899, then London
three years later. From here, they made the annual pilgrimage back to Dublin during Horse Show week, with Dunlop’s father returning to London clutching two or three more ‘Æ’ canvasses each time. Dunlop trained in art in London, associating with a group of young artists who exhibited at the Hurricane Lamp Gallery in Chelsea
. In 1928 the group published a journal called Emotionism: Dunlop supplied a rather vague manifesto ("Art is the expression of the essence of life"), a poem, and an illustration of one of his paintings, "The Fish Market". Dunlop soon expanded his exhibiting circle, showing with the New English Art Club
and later with the Royal Academy
and the Royal Society of British Artists
. He maintained his Irish connections, returning periodically to paint in Dublin and submitting a number of works to the RHA
in the 1940s and 1950s.
Dunlop studied at Manchester and Wimbledon as well as Paris. Frances Spalding
described him as an 'alla prima' painter of traditional subjects. At some stage he settled in Barnham, West Sussex
, and in 1947 or 1948 exhibited at Bognor Regis
, which is what led to the Bibby
connection mentioned below.
In addition to painting, he was a prolific author; his books include:
Dunlop's paintings can be seen in the Crawford Gallery, Cork, the Tate Gallery
, Cheltenham Art Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
author and painter in oil of landscapes, seascapes, figure studies, portraits and still life.
Dunlop was born in Dublin, Ireland
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...
. He studied at Manchester School of Art and in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, having spent some time working in an advertising agency. He became a prolific exhibitor, venues including the RA, NEAC, Leicester and Redfern Galleries, RSA, RHA and the Glasgow Institute of Fine Art.
His first one man show (1928) was at the Redfern Gallery. In 1923 he had founded the Emotionist Group of writers and artists, and his own work is characterised by a painterly exuberance. Dunlop's work is in a number of public galleries, including the Tate
Tate Gallery
The Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
.
Most of his life was spent in England, latterly at Barnham, West Sussex
Barnham, West Sussex
Barnham is a large village and civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex, England, about five miles north of Bognor Regis. The civil parish had a population of 1,270 persons according to the 1991 census, although the adjacent area of 'West Barnham' adds a further 3,107 to the total...
, close to Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
. He achieved fame in his lifetime, having been elected a full member of the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
in 1950, and his work is instantly recognisable, as are the many fakes which have appeared on the market over the past thirty years or so!
Alex Fraser of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
was Dunlop's dealer in London and again later in Canada once Fraser had emigrated in the 1940s.
Dunlop's mother, Eleanor (née Fitzpatrick) was a watercolour artist and his father, Daniel Nicol Dunlop
Daniel Nicol Dunlop
Daniel Nicol Dunlop was the founder of the World Power Conference, and a theosophist-turned-anthroposophist. He was an artist, and the father of Ronald Ossory Dunlop....
(1868-1935), was a great friend of W. B. Yeats, James Stephens
James Stephens (author)
James Stephens was an Irish novelist and poet.James Stephens wrote many retellings of Irish myths and fairy tales. His retellings are marked by a rare combination of humor and lyricism...
and George Russell
George William Russell
George William Russell who wrote under the pseudonym Æ , was an Irish nationalist, writer, editor, critic, poet, and painter. He was also a mystical writer, and centre of a group of followers of theosophy in Dublin, for many years.-Organisor:Russell was born in Lurgan, County Armagh...
, or ‘Æ’. Together Yeats, ‘Æ’ and Daniel Nicol Dunlop published The Irish Theosophist from the home of Eleanor’s father, the Shakespearean scholar R.H. Fitzpatrick.
Thus Dunlop grew up surrounded by the seminal figures of the Irish Literary Renaissance, in an atmosphere smacking of mysticism
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
and Spiritualism. The Dunlop family moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1899, then London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
three years later. From here, they made the annual pilgrimage back to Dublin during Horse Show week, with Dunlop’s father returning to London clutching two or three more ‘Æ’ canvasses each time. Dunlop trained in art in London, associating with a group of young artists who exhibited at the Hurricane Lamp Gallery in Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
. In 1928 the group published a journal called Emotionism: Dunlop supplied a rather vague manifesto ("Art is the expression of the essence of life"), a poem, and an illustration of one of his paintings, "The Fish Market". Dunlop soon expanded his exhibiting circle, showing with the New English Art Club
New English Art Club
The New English Art Club was founded in London in 1885 as an alternate venue to the Royal Academy.-History:Young English artists returning from studying art in Paris mounted the first exhibition of the New English Art Club in April 1886...
and later with the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
and the Royal Society of British Artists
Royal Society of British Artists
The Royal Society of British Artists is a British art body established in 1823 as the Society of British Artists, as an alternative to the Royal Academy.-History:...
. He maintained his Irish connections, returning periodically to paint in Dublin and submitting a number of works to the RHA
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...
in the 1940s and 1950s.
Dunlop studied at Manchester and Wimbledon as well as Paris. Frances Spalding
Frances Spalding
Frances Spalding CBE, FRSL is a British art historian and writer.She studied at Nottingham University and gained her PhD for a study of Roger Fry. She taught art history at Sheffield City Polytechnic before becoming a freelance writer and curator...
described him as an 'alla prima' painter of traditional subjects. At some stage he settled in Barnham, West Sussex
Barnham, West Sussex
Barnham is a large village and civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex, England, about five miles north of Bognor Regis. The civil parish had a population of 1,270 persons according to the 1991 census, although the adjacent area of 'West Barnham' adds a further 3,107 to the total...
, and in 1947 or 1948 exhibited at Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex, on the south coast of England. It is south-south-west of London, west of Brighton, and south-east of the city of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Littlehampton east-north-east and Selsey to the...
, which is what led to the Bibby
Cyril Bibby
Cyril Bibby was a biologist and educator. He was also one of the first sexologists.-Early life, family, etc. :...
connection mentioned below.
In addition to painting, he was a prolific author; his books include:
- Modern Still Life Painting in Oil (London 1938)
- Understanding Pictures (London 1948)
- Painting for Pleasure (London 1951)
- Sketching for Pleasure (London 1952)
- How to Paint for Pleasure (New York 1953)
- Ancient ArundelArundelArundel is a market town and civil parish in the South Downs of West Sussex in the south of England. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Worthing east southeast, Littlehampton to the south and Bognor Regis to...
(London 1953) - Landscape Painting: Ma YuanMa Yuan (painter)Ma Yuan was a Chinese painter of the Song Dynasty. His work, together with that of Xia Gui, formed the basis of the so-called Ma-Xia school of painting, and is considered among the finest from the period...
to Picasso (London 1954) - his autobiographyAutobiographyAn autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
: Struggling with Paint: Some Reminiscences (London, 1956).
Dunlop's paintings can be seen in the Crawford Gallery, Cork, the Tate Gallery
Tate Gallery
The Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
, Cheltenham Art Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Paintings
- Dunlop painted portraits of each of the four children of Cyril BibbyCyril BibbyCyril Bibby was a biologist and educator. He was also one of the first sexologists.-Early life, family, etc. :...
- In Cheltenham art Gallery
- See http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-20,GGLD:en&q=ossory%20dunlop&oe=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi