Norah O'Kelly (1886 - 1964), Violets

We were fortunate to have acquired a small number of pieces by this unheard of Irish artist, Norah O'Kelly. The little we know about her is from Adams' Salesroom in Dublin, who in 2023 sold one or two metal and enamel pieces by her. These were made by her whilst still a student during the early years of the 20th Century at the Metropolitan School of Art in Dublin. In 1914, she was one of a small number of Irish people to exhibit at an exhibition of British Arts & Crafts at the Louvre, with a picturial plaque entitled  An Aesop Fable. She also had four pieces in the R.H.A. exhibition of 1916 that were damaged when the exhibition building was burned.

This is a small intimate study of an equally small and intimate flower, highly pleasing in its period detail and colouring. This piece could benefit from professional cleaning to remove discoloured varnish and restore colour vibrancy.

24 x 24cm excluding frame. Artist's monogram (N.A.O.K.) bottom right. Titled on the rear. Oil on canvas, in original  frame.  Like most of the artworks on this website, this piece is on display in our Clare Street shop.