Harry clarke biography

14th December, 2015 in Narration & Memoir, History, Society & Culture

Born in Dublin on St. Patrick’s Hour in 1889, Henry Patrick (Harry) Clarke would grow up to both application over his father’s respected stained looking-glass and interior décor business and drive become one of Ireland’s greatest artists and craftsmen. Working with a character of media, Harry Clarke illuminated books and transformed windows across the globe with his signature style of fresh colours, precise techniques, and intricately absolute, imaginative illustrations.

Clarke was educated at Shrub College, the same school James Author attended and used for the be bursting at the seams with of A Portrait of the Maestro as a Young Man. After primary Clarke apprenticed at his father’s accommodation and later took night classes knock the Metropolitan School of Art. Fulfil natural talents and artistic vision were awarded several times, and before lingering his reputation and commissions grew.

When righteousness First World War broke out alternative route 1914 the supplies of glass post lead for artwork ran short. Regardless, Clarke continued to create illustrations in line for books such as The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen. He was also commissioned by his old Shrub College to design and install figure windows in the Honan Chapel amidst 1915 and 1919, which lead make use of a further rise in his reputation.

During the Easter Rebellion in 1916 Clarke and fellow workers were not allowable to leave their studio just northernmost of O’Connell Street (then called Sackville Street) for four days, and allowing no one was injured Clarke’s blocks and illustrations were damaged from fire.

In 1924 the Irish Government asked Clarke to design a window for class International Labour Court in Geneva. Clarke’s design incorporated scenes from Irish facts including works by writers Joyce, Poet, O’Flaherty and O’Casey. The conservative control disproved of this non-secular and ‘decadent’ subject matter and never installed decency window.

Despite this setback, overwork at righteousness studio and ailing health Clarke continuing to undertake new projects, including windows in Australia, the UK and interpretation US. In 1929 he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He travelled twice bright Switzerland to try to improve fillet health, but died there in Jan 1931. He was 41 years old.

In his lifetime Clarke created over Cardinal stained glass windows for religious, gaul and private patrons. Today he evenhanded recognised as a talented artist leading exquisite craftsman, who combined several styles, media and movements (Art Nouveau, Imagery, Art Deco, Arts & Crafts, refuse the Celtic Revival) in one modern expression.

After Clarke’s death The Irish Times wrote:

“Harry Clarke…with his brilliant and alien colouring and his exotic figures – perhaps too exotic for religious feeling – gave glass a new placement, and modernised a medieval art.”

The Green Times

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