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Maurice MacGonigal PRHA (1900 - 1979)
Unloading the Turf Boats, Kilmurvey Pier, Inis Mhór, Aran Islands
Oil on board, 40 x 50cm (15¾ x 19¾”)
Signed
Maurice MacGonigal was born in Dublin and started his career at his uncle’s stained
glass design business. He took classes at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art, and
was awarded medals for his painting, particularly of landscapes. After a brief visit to
the Netherlands to study, he returned to Dublin and became a respected teacher in
the same art school where he had previously been trained. He exhibited at the Royal
Hibernian Academy extensively between 1924 and 1968, in total showing over 200
paintings, and was made an academician there in 1933. He also exhibited regularly in
the Royal Academy in London and the Royal Scottish Academy. “Unloading turf at
Kilmurvey Pier, Inis Mhór, Aran Islands.” probably dates to 1954...the Islands having
no natural peat bogs remaining due to erosion, all the fuel has to be brought in from
the mainland, and that particular little pier is the main landing place for the most
westerly part of the main island Inis Mhór or Inishmor...and not be to be confused
with Arannmor off Burtonport Co.Donegal..that particular year was a very long dry
summer so that the turf (peat)was of the highest quality..and unloading the turn from
the hookers & pucans was a community effort requiring a large collaborative effort.
For a painter the appeal is obvious,and the artist and his family were staying at the
local “big house” Kilmurvey House home to the O’Flaherty Johnstons; adjoining the
pier was the original house built by Robert Flaherty for his Movie, “Man of Aran”.
The flat limestone flags overlooking the little pier were an ideal perch for a painter
who could sit there for hours drawing and painting and just sufficient wind to keep
the midges at bay (always a hazard for plein air painters).
MacGonigal had been on the island painting in the 1930s,but this works dates from
the 1950s, a time of long warm days and zephyr breezes.
Ciarán MacGonigal
€8,000 - 12,000
