Summer 2011 Edition
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Published: 25 March 2010
"Hibernia with the Bust of Lord Cloncurry" by John Hogan
This sculpture, by John Hogan, is one of the most important neoclassical sculptures by an Irish artist.Hogan was born in 1800 in Tallow, Co Waterford and was educated in Cork. He was initially apprenticed to a solicitor but his artistic talent was obvious and he became a draughtsman with the building firm of Deane and Co.
The Cork Society of Art was founded around 1816 and Hogan was active in this. In recognition of Hogan's precocious skills a public appeal was made to send him to Rome and £250 was raised for the young artist to study sculpture in Italy.
Hogan was in Rome from 1824 to 1849 and it was during this period that 'Hibernia with the Bust of Lord Cloncurry' was made. Lord Cloncurry, (Valentine Lawless 1773-1853) was a prominent patron of the arts in Ireland and a supporter of Catholic Emancipation. In the spring 1841 he commissioned Hogan to produce a statue of himself to present to the Dublin Literary Society.
Cloncurry was in Rome at the time and it is likely that it was then that Hogan sculpted the plaster bust of Cloncurry which formed the starting point for the finished work. The completed work in white marble, finally reached Ireland in 1846 and Cloncurry was so delighted with it that he paid Hogan a bonus and decided to keep the piece for himself.
The work had been greatly admired in Rome and on its arrival in Dublin was put on public display in the Royal Exchange (now the City Hall). Lord Cloncurry then displayed the work in his residence at Maritimo, Blackrock. It was later moved to Cloncurry's house at Lyons, Co Kildare. UCD acquired Lyons in 1963 as the Agricultural Faculty and it was then that the work entered the UCD collection.
'Hibernia with the Bust of Lord Cloncurry' now on display in Belfield House is a superb work depicting Hibernia or Erin, the personification of Ireland, seated with her arm around the bust of Lord Cloncurry. It is in the classical style yet is quietly nationalistic in its use of Irish symbols such as the harp and the Irish hound. Hogan's skills and artistic vision are complemented by his patron's tastes and political views and both come together wonderfully in this fine work.
UCD launches map and guide to 8km of woodland walks
Since its establishment, the UCD Belfield campus has provided an important amenity to students, staff and the local community. Now, over 8km of woodland paths have been created and a series of walks developed to further open up the 133-hectare campus to a wider community.
The recently-launched UCD Woodland Walks Map and Guide details five routes of varying lengths. For example walkers may follow the Millennium Walk, a 3.3km path that takes in the meandering double line of oak trees that stretches from the UCD Bowl to the UCD Veterinary Sciences building and joins the Newstead Precinct with the lakes at Woodview. The Glenomena Walk is a 1.9km route that joins up established woodland on campus. For those looking for a longer walk, the Boundary Woodland Walk follows the perimeter of the campus and covers 6.2km.
The map and guide also includes information on notable trees, birds and insects that may be found on campus. Along the walks it is possible to see a wide range of birdlife including Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest and Siskin.
Copies of the UCD Woodland Map and Guide can be obtained at local Services Desks or downloaded from www.ucd.ie/campusdevelopment/woodlandwalks.
UCD historic and modern buildings open their doors
20th-century Irish artworks, heaters that turn off when windows are opened and methods of combining old architecture with modern design in period houses were among the topics discussed during the staff Open House event, which was held in late April.
In its first year, the event offered staff a chance to go on one of five tours ranging from the period Belfield House and its art collection to the recently-completed Charles Institute of Dermatology with its bold steel and glass form.
The event gave staff an opportunity to 'go behind the scenes' and see areas of buildings normally closed off. It focussed on the history, design, features and purpose of some of UCD's most striking buildings. Those visiting the new Science Centre South started the tour in the plant room of the building situated 5 floors up on the roof. They saw the range of equipment needed to operate the building and the efforts going in to make the facility as energy efficient as possible.
UCD's range of restored period houses are an important element of the campus and future events will give staff and others interested the opportunity to explore their history and the work that has gone into restoring them.
Produced by UCD University Relations
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