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Fig. 20.William Orpen and some of his students
including Margaret Crilley
Fig. 21. Group at “Young Irish Artists Exhibition 1903” includ-
ing Frances Beckett, Dorothy Elvery, LilyWilliams, Beatrice
Elvery and Estella Solomons.
Orpen’s Pupils
Although William Orpen only came over to teach for a couple of weeks each term his
influence on Irish Art lasted well into the 1950’s . He was a breath of fresh air - Beatrice
Elvery in her book “Today we will only gossip” describes him :- “As a teacher Orpen
brought about a revolution in the life-class. The students were allowed to talk and smoke.
As it was almost impossible to get a female model for the nude in Dublin he brought
girl models from London. Some of them added much to the social life of the bohemian
element in the city”.
