Margaret Allen
editLegacy
editThough little is known about some aspects of Allen’s life and work,[1] her influence is gradually gaining recognition in specialist circles.[2]
Political Commentary
editMargaret Allen has been noted as the first Irish woman artist to deal with nationalist issues in her works.[3] Allen’s paintings provide an insightful historical resource, particularly due to her prominent use of social commentary, which was novel in her time.[3][4][2] Political sympathies are evident in paintings such as ‘The Last Hour in the Old Land’ (1876) [5] and ‘Bad news in troubled times: ‘An important arrest has been made of a young man named —’’ (1886) with explicit reference to the Irish nationalist cause.[2] Allen commented on Irish-British antagonism even in paintings to be exhibited in Britain.[3] Due to this open display of personal political opinion, the works mentioned were met with a critical response, and historians posit that this caused Allen’s lack of recognition past honorary Royal Hibernia Academy (RHA) membership.[3]
Business Savvy
edit
Allen’s experience with business was also notable, it was her expertise that allowed to run the family M. Allen & Co. at 12 Westland Row as an artists’ repository from 1863, followed by the opening of the photography studio in 1865.[6][7] Allen was one of the first commercial photographers in Dublin,[6] competing with over 70 studios, and adapting the business successfully with the times during Ireland’s period of ‘photomania’.[8] Allen managed to move from child and animal photography [6] to engaging solely in professional photography by 1873. [7] She also maintained her personal interest in painting by operating the portrait studio in the same building,[7] and using this mixture of activities as a marketing advantage.[6]
Auctions and Exhibitions
editIn recent years, several of Allen’s paintings have been up for auction,[9] with the controversial ‘Bad news in troubled times', valued at 30-50 thousand euro at the 2009 Adam’s-Bonhams Important Irish Art auction.[2] Though the painting went unsold,[10] it is currently displayed at Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum at Quinnipiac University.[11]
The 2023 RHA and Irish National Gallery It took a century exhibition, also featured one of Allen’s portraits, depicting an unnamed man.[12] This work was presented alongside a host of works by the 59 female RHA academicians, including Sarah Purser, who was awarded an honorary title following Allen, before becoming the first woman to receive official RHA recognition.[12]
- ^ Snoddy, Theo (2002). "Margaret Allen". Dictionary of Irish artists : 20th century. Dublin: Merlin. pp. 14–15. ISBN 9781903582176.
- ^ a b c d O'Byrne, Robert (Spring 2010). "Lack of Recognition for Margaret Allen at Adam's-Bonhams Irish Sale". Irish Arts Review. 27 (1): 50 – via JSTOR.
- ^ a b c d Murphy, Derville (Spring 2010). "Margaret Allen, Social Commentator". Irish Arts Review. 27 (1): 89–92 – via JSTOR.
- ^ Kelly, Niamh Ann (2018). Imaging the Great Irish Famine: representing dispossession in visual culture. London: I.B. Tauris & Co. pp. 242–243. ISBN 9781838608712.
- ^ Kelly, Niamh-Ann (2018). Imaging the Great Irish Famine: representing dispossession in visual culture. London: I.B. Tauris & Co. pp. 72–74. ISBN 9781838608712.
- ^ a b c d Murphy, Derville (Spring 2022). "Unframing Margaret Allen, HRHA (1832-1914)". History Ireland. 30 (2).
- ^ a b c Slattery, Peadar (1992). "The uses of photography in Ireland 1839-1900". Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland). Department of History. 1: 29–30.
- ^ Hill, Myrtle; Pollock, Vivian (Spring 1994). "Images of the Past Photographs as historical evidence". History Ireland. 2 (1).
- ^ "Margaret Allen auction results at Whyte's Art Auctions". Whyte's. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
- ^ "08-12-2009 | IMPORTANT IRISH ART SALE IN ASSOC. WITH BONHAMS". www.adams.ie. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
- ^ "Ireland's Great Hunger Museum". www.ighm.org. Retrieved 2023-11-12.
- ^ a b Tipton, Gemma (July 12, 2023). "It Took a Century: Do we still need an exhibition dedicated to art by women? Sadly, yes". The Irish Times.
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