Artwork
The Virgin of Éire
The Virgin of Éire is an oil painting by Mainie Harriet Jellett. It dates from 1930 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
About this work
Overview
The Virgin of Éire is an oil painting created by Irish artist Mainie Jellett around 1930, characterized by a modernist and stylized representation.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts three abstracted figures, likely women, in a serene landscape. The central, largest figure, distinguished by a blue body and white halo, is interpreted as the Virgin, while the two smaller, muted companions and the soothing color palette evoke a sense of calm and serenity.
Technique & Style
Jellett employs a modernist approach, utilizing soft, curved forms and a restrained, predominantly blue-green-purple color scheme to achieve a harmonious, abstracted composition.
History & Provenance
Part of the National Gallery of Ireland's collection, The Virgin of Éire reflects Jellett's pioneering role in introducing abstract art to Ireland, following her groundbreaking 1923 work Decoration and participation in the 1928 Olympic art competition.
Context
Created during a period of Jellett's advocacy for modern art in Ireland, the painting sits within the broader context of early 20th-century European modernism, while maintaining a unique, serene interpretation of a traditional subject.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mary Harriet Jellett (29 April 1897 – 16 February 1944) was an Irish painter whose Decoration (1923) was among the first abstract paintings shown in Ireland when it was exhibited at the Society of Dublin Painters Group Show in 1923.
