home / The Patron, or the Festival of St Kevin at the Seven Churches, Glendalough (1813)

FINE ART : PAINTINGS

Title
The Patron, or the Festival of St Kevin at the Seven Churches, Glendalough (1813)
Object Name
Painting
Maker
Peacock, Joseph c.1783-1837 (Primary maker)
Peacock, Joseph c.1783-1837 (maker)
Date Made
1813
1813
Description
This work shows the festivities surrounding the feast day of St Kevin, held annually on 3 June at Glendalough, Co. Wicklow, where Kevin had founded a monastery in the sixth century. Though patrons (or patterns) were intended to have a devotional character, no such religious sentiment can be detected here. Instead, the scene is one of merriment and worldliness: dancing, drinking and the trading of goods. This particular patron was suppressed by Cardinal Cullen in 1862, as part of a move by the Catholic clergy to prohibit local festivals. Peacock made his reputation with crowd scenes like this and depictions of events such as Donnybrook and Palmerston Fairs. Peacock was clearly gifted, with a closely observed technique and a keen eye for detail. The painting is a fascinating glimpse of Irish life in the early nineteenth century.
Materials
oil on panel
Catalogue Number
BELUM.U120
Copyright
National Museums NI
National Museums NI holds over a million objects in the collection, as well as this we manage the records and associated images for each object through a working database. The national collection has been almost 200 years in the making, and we recognise that thinking about collecting and collections has evolved over this time and continues to evolve. As a result, some of our records may contain language and views that we now consider offensive and unacceptable, for example, reflecting racist attitudes. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to reviewing and updating our records accordingly. Working with researchers, communities and academic partners we are learning more about the stories behind objects, and we are committed to sharing these with our audiences. We welcome feedback. Please email [email protected]