Mary Jane Grattan Guinness Paintings

Mary Jane Grattan Guinness, also known as May Guinness, was an Irish artist born in 1863. She was a part of the Grattan family, which was well-known in Ireland, and married into the prominent Guinness family, famed for their brewing empire. Her full name reflects her birth family and her married name. Despite her connections to affluent families, May Guinness is recognized for her own contributions to the world of art.

May Guinness received her artistic training at the Metropolitan School of Art in Dublin and later at the Westminster School of Art in London. Her education in the arts also took her across the Channel to Paris, where she studied under renowned artists such as Raphaël Collin and Théodore Casimir Delécluse. The influence of her European training is evident in her works, which often incorporated elements of the French plein-air painting style.

Guinness was active during a vibrant period in Irish art history, contributing to the burgeoning cultural nationalism of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her work included landscapes, portraits, and still lifes. She was associated with the Dublin Painters Society and exhibited regularly with the Royal Hibernian Academy from 1904 onwards. Her paintings have been appreciated for their delicate use of color and light, capturing the Irish countryside's essence with a gentle impressionistic touch.

Despite being overshadowed by some of her more famous contemporaries, May Guinness's work has been the subject of renewed interest in recent years, with art historians recognizing her talent and contribution to Irish art. She died in 1952, leaving behind a legacy that offers insight into the artistic movements of her time and the role of women in the arts during the turn of the century.