Norah O'Kelly (1886 - 1964), Rhododendron Walk, Himalayas

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 & Carfts at the Louvre, with a picturial plaque entitle  An Aesop Fable.

We also know that she had four paintings in the RHA Exhibition of 1916 that were destroyed or damaged by fire. Prior to the outbreak of the first world war (1914-1918) she travelled to India where she workd as an art teacher. She obviously sent the pieces back to Ireland from Calcutta, as they were described as 'four landscape views of India'. What happened to her after the war we cannot be sure, though it would appear that she taught in Ireland and her artistic output came to an end.

This watercolour shows a woodland path, lush with rhododendrons and dappled light. It could well have been painted in the Himalayas, where she travelled and which she documented, although it looks remarkably similar to paths in places such as Mount Usher and Kilmacurragh in Co Wicklow, or Fern Hill in South County Dublin. However, based on the other works that we acquired, all of which are of Indian scenes, this picture most likely was made in the Himalayas.

Watercolour on paper, 35 x 20cm. Newly reframed. with archival mount and glass. Like most of the artworks on this website, this piece is on display in our Clare Street shop.