Irish Migration
Vol. 2
These paintings replace the 3 that I did 7 years ago, but the story remains the same. From left to right, we have the Irish migration to Saint John. The left painting depicts a couple and a dog leaving their home of Ireland due to the great famine in the 1800s. In the middle we have the ships voyaging across the Atlantic and into Partridge Island. Lastly, we have the slip into Saint John where we can see some Irish men and their dogs making their way into the city. Most of the buildings on the boardwalk are still there today.
One key feature in this series is the colour scheme. From left to right we have green, white and orange. The colours of the Irish flag.
The three paintings also have lines of perspective that were designed with intention. The left and right paintings slope inwards towards the middle painting where the ships also point towards the centre. This brings us to the focal point of Partridge Island and the Celtic cross; the first point of contact between the Irish and Saint John.
Details
84” x 48” oil/acrylic/aerosol on canvas
Year
2023
Part one of the Cask & Kettle series we have the first part of the story; an Irish couple and their dog leaving Ireland due to the Great Potato Famine in the 1840s. They will be on their way, with 2.1 million others to North America, 30,000 of which landed in Saint John. In total, 150,000 moved to Saint John between the years 1815 and 1867.
In the middle we have the ships. Commonly known as famine ships or coffin ships due to the high number of deaths and sickness that occurred along the voyage across the Atlantic. The 3 ships are approaching Partridge Island. In the sky we have the Celtic Cross that stands as a symbol for the one erected on the Island. The engraving on the cross reads as follows:
"This monument was erected in memory of more than 2000 Irish immigrants who died of typhus fever contracted on shipboard during the voyage from Ireland in the Famine year 1847, and of whom 600 were buried in this island.
This cross also commemorates the devotion and sacrifice of Dr. Patrick Collins, who, after ministering to the victims of the disease, himself contracted it and died.
Designed and erected by George McArthur-1927"
The third painting of the Cask & Kettle series. The Saint John Slip. Two Irish men make their way onto the boardwalk. Plenty of little hidden things in this painting. The majority of these paintings are still around today and even some of the signage.
The two dogs in this painting are actually my family’s dogs; Hennessy and Luna. They were both with me when I painted this, as well as my friend’s dog, Kodak, the Australian Shepard seen in the first painting of this series.
