Written in stone

Chris Corlett lauds the work of stone carver Denis Cullen, who attracted commissions from a divided society in 18th-century Ireland


Written in stone
Writer

Artist

Back to this Issue

Category
Sculpture
Tags
Chris Corlett
Denis Cullen
sculpture

Share

If I told you that throughout much of south Leinster are numerous open-air galleries of 18th-century sculpture, you might wonder what I was talking about. In fact, throughout this area are some extraordinary stone monuments that more often are considered as a source of social history rather than as a source of 18th-century art. I am of course referring to headstones that are found in our many ancient graveyards, and at any one site there may be dozens of stone ‘canvases’. Arguably, more examples of 18th-century art and sculpture exist in our graveyards today than in any gallery or archive.

More from the Autumn 2012 edition

Elemental by design

Elemental by design

John McLaughlin assesses heneghan peng’s dramatically sited but elegantly unobtrusive visitor centre for the Giant’s Causeway in Antrim

 


Preview Article
From the ashes

From the ashes

Peter Pearson makes a plea for re-roofing Kilmacurragh, the Queen Anne house set in an arcadian parkland in County Wicklow

 


Preview Article
Parallel worlds

Parallel worlds

Peter Murray finds similarities between the fictional character Kim and 19th-century photographer John Burke, whose path in Afghanistan, has been retraced by Simon Norfolk

 


Preview Article
Shopping cart0
There are no products in the cart!
Continue shopping
0