Harry Clarke and Artistic Visions of the New Irish State

Harry Clarke is an Irish artist of international acclaim. This beautifully designed and fully illustrated book reveals how Clarke responded to his commissions and to his public, analysing works produced at the height of his career in the context of the quest for a cohesive identity by the new Irish state. It examines the complex relationship between visual art and literature that lies at the heart of Clarke's contribution to Irish post-independence culture, and highlights themes such as patronage, public reception, propaganda, and memory, to place Clarke within a larger political and cultural context. Essential reading for art lovers and scholars alike, Harry Clarke and Artistic Visions of the New Irish State will appeal to anyone interested in the arts of Ireland, and the history and development of early to mid-20th century visual and material culture.