Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Hints for Irish Historical Paintings (Author: Thomas Osborne Davis)

p.112

National art is conversant with national subjects. We have Irish artists, but no Irish, no national art. This ought not to continue; it is injurious to the artists, and disgraceful to the country. The following historical subjects were loosely jotted down by a friend. Doubtless, a more just selection could be made by students noting down fit subjects for painting and sculpture, as they read. We shall be happy to print any suggestions on the subject—our own are, as we call them, mere hints with loose references to the authors or books which suggested them. For any good painting, the marked figures must be few, the action obvious, the costume, arms, architecture, postures historically exact, and the manners, appearance, and rank of the characters strictly studied and observed. The grouping and drawing require great truth and vigour. A similar set of subjects illustrating social life could be got from the Poor Report, Carleton's, Banim's, or Griffin's stories, or, better still, from observation.

The references are vague, but perhaps sufficient.

  1. The Landing of the Milesians—Keating, Moore's Melodies.
  2. Ollamh Fodhla Presenting his Laws to his People. Keating's, Moore's, and O'Halloran's Histories of Ireland—Walker's Irish Dress and Arms, and Vallancey's Collectanea.

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  3. Nial and his Nine Hostages—Moore, Keating.
  4. A Druid's Augury.—Moore, O'Halloran, Keating.
  5. A Chief Riding out of his Fort—Griffin's Invasion, Walker, Moore.
  6. The Oak of Kildare—Moore.
  7. The Burial of King Dathy in the Alps, his thinned troops laying stones on his grave—M'Geoghegan's Histoire de l'Irlande (French edition), Invasion, Walker, Moore.
  8. St. Patrick brought before the Druids at Tara—Moore and his Authorities.
  9. The First Landing of the Danes—See Invasion, Moore, &c.
  10. The Death of Turgesius—Keating, Moore.
  11. Ceallachan tied to the Mast—Keating.
  12. Muirchertach Returning to Aileach— Archaeological Society's Tracts.
  13. Brian Reconnoitring the Danes before Clontarf.
  14. The Last of the Danes Escaping to his Ship.
  15. O'Ruarc's Return—Keating, Moore's Melodies.
  16. Raymond Le Gros Leaving his Bride—Moore.
  17. Roderick in Conference with the Normans—Moore, M'Geoghegan.
  18. Donald O'Brien Setting Fire to Limerick—M'Geoghegan.
  19. Donald O'Brien Visiting Holycross—M'Geoghegan.
  20. O'Brien, O'Connor, and M'Carthy, making Peace to attack the Normans—M'Geoghegan, Moore.
  21. The Same Three Victorious at the Battle of Thurles—Moore and O'Conor's Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores.
  22. Irish Chiefs leaving Prince John—Moore, &c.
  23. M'Murrough and Gloster.—Harris's Hibernica, p. 53.
  24. Crowning of Edward Bruce—Leland, Grace's Annals, &c.
  25. Edgecombe Vainly Trying to Overawe Kildare—Harris's Hibernica.
  26. Kildare ‘On the Necks of the Butlers.’—Leland.
  27. Shane O'Neill at Elizabeth's Court—Leland.
  28. Lord Sydney Entertained by Shane O'Neill.
  29. The Battle of the Red Coats—O'Sullivan's Catholic History.
  30. Hugh O'Neill Victor in Single Combat at Clontibret—Fynes Moryson, O'Sullivan, M'Geoghegan.
  31. The Corleius—Dymmok's Treatise in Archaeological Society's Tracts.
  32. Maguire and St. Leger in Single Combat—M'Geoghegan.

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  33. O'Sullivan Crossing the Shannon— Pacata Hibernia.
  34. O'Dogherty Receiving the Insolent Message of the Governor of Derry—M'Geoghegan.
  35. The Brehon before the English Judges—Davis's Letter to Lord Salisbury.
  36. Ormond Refusing to give up his Sword—Carte's Life of Ormond.
  37. Good Lookerson. Strafford's Letters.
  38. Owen Connolly before the Privy Council, 1641—Carey's Vindiciae.
  39. The Battle of Julianstown—Temple's Rebellion, and Tichbourne's Drogheda.
  40. Owen Roe Organising the Creaghts—Carte, and also Belling and O'Neill in the Desiderata Curiosa Hibernica.
  41. The Council of Kilkenny—Carte.
  42. The Breach of Clonmel—Do.
  43. Smoking Out the Irish—Ludlow's Memoirs.
  44. Burning Them—Castlehaven's Memoirs.
  45. Nagle before the Privy Council—Harris's William.
  46. James's Entry into Dublin— Dublin Magazine for March, 1843.
  47. The Bridge of Athlone— Green Book and Authorities.
  48. St. Ruth's Death.—Do.
  49. The Embarkation from Limerick—Do.
  50. Cremona— Cox's Magazine.
  51. Fontenoy.—Do.
  52. Sir S. Rice Pleading against the Violation of the Treaty of Limerick—Staunton's Collection of Tracts on Ireland.
  53. Burning of Molyneux's famous work.
  54. Liberty Boys Reading a Drapier's Letter—Mason's St. Patrick's Cathedral.
  55. Lucas Surrounded by Dublin Citizens in his Shop.
  56. Grattan Moving Liberty— Memoirs.
  57. Flood Apostrophising Corruption—Barrington.
  58. Dungannon Convention—Wilson, Barrington.
  59. Curran Cross-Examining Armstrong— Memoirs.
  60. Curran Pleading before the Council in Alderman James's Case.
  61. Tone's First Society—See his Memoirs.
  62. The Belfast Club—Madden's U. I., Second Series, Vol. I.
  63. Tone, Emmet, and Keogh in the Rathfarnham Garden.
  64. Tone and Carnot—Tone's Memoirs.

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  65. Battle of Oulart.—Hay, Teeling, Rebellion, &c.
  66. First Meeting of the Catholic Association.
  67. O'Connell Speaking in a Munster Chapel—Wyse's History of Catholic Association.
  68. The Clare Hustings—Proposal of O'Connell.
  69. The Dublin Corporation Speech.
  70. Father Mathew Administering the Pledge in a Munster County.
  71. Conciliation—Orange and Green.
  72. The Lifting of the Irish Flags of a National Fleet and Army.