Mainie Jellett
, Irish, 1897-1944
Title
The Virgin of ÉireDate1940s
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions
64 x 92 cm
Credit LineBequeathed, 1978
Object numberNGI.4319
Label TextBy the early 1940s, Jellett had developed a singular form of expression, which featured the integration of landscape and figurative detail, but also acknowledged traditional subject matter. Here, the Madonna and Child are flanked by St Patrick and St Brigid. In 1943, the painting featured in the inaugural Irish Exhibition of Living Art (IELA), the committee of which Jellett chaired. The IELA was a ground-breaking initiative, established to provide a platform for young artists, and paved the way for the development of Irish art in the 1950s and 60s.
Finished work:/Preparatory work:
