John Lawlor (sculptor)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "John Lawlor" sculptor – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

John Lawlor (c. 1820

Lawlor received his art training at the Royal Dublin Society's Schools, studying sculpture under John Smyth (c1773-1840). In 1843 the Royal Irish Art Union purchased his "Cupid pressing Grapes into the Glass of Time," and was won as a prize by the Countess of Ranfurly. He exhibited a "Boy and Dog" at the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1844, and was one of eight artists commissioned to produce the plaques on the corners of the Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens, also executing the large group "Engineering."

In 1845 he moved to London, soon being recognised as an accomplished sculptor, first living in Wyndham Street, then moving to Stanhope Street,

From his first contribution in 1844 he continued to exhibit at intervals with the Royal Hibernian Academy. His "Bather" was exhibited there in 1851, and at the

Other works by Lawlor which received acclaim were "Titania," a marble statue in the Royal Academy in 1868, the "Emigrant" of 1853 and "Clio". He visited America in 1886, and received a number of commissions, remaining there until the autumn of 1888. On his return he stayed in Cork for some time, finishing the statue of Bishop Delany which was placed outside the Cathedral, and some statues for the Queenstown church in Cork. He did quite a number of busts including that of "Daniel O'Connell," "Smith O'Brien," John O'Connor Power and "James O'Kelly, M.P." He was a popular figure in London's artistic and literary circles, his tall, striking appearance, ready wit, genial manner and fine baritone making him a sought-after guest. He did not produce a steady output, but rather worked only when the inclination took him or when obliged by financial necessity, and thus did not provide for his old age. He remained a bachelor his entire life.

His sister Bridget had married John Kelly, a blacksmith and draymaker, and remained in Dublin. When her husband died in 1861, she herself in poor health, moved to London with her five children. Aloysius, the youngest boy, became an accomplished painter under the name Aloysius O'Kelly. In London, John Lawlor had become a loyal supporter of the secret Irish Republican Brotherhood or Fenians, and was careful to keep his political affiliations out of his public life as an artist. His home was regarded as a safe house by the movement.^[4]

See also

• John Cassidy (1860–1939), fellow Irish sculptor in England, who worked primarily in Manchester

References