James Power (sculptor)

James Joseph Power (4 May 1918 in Phibsborough, Dublin – 13 April 2009 in Dublin) was an Irish sculptor, who like his sister May Power (1903-1993) learnt from his father Albert Power (1881-1945).[1] He is known for sculpting (in 1956) the 1916 memorial on Sarsfield Bridge in Limerick. Like his father, he was often called upon to do death masks, and did so for Brendan Behan in 1964.[2]

James Joseph Power
Born(1918-05-04)4 May 1918
Phibsborough, Dublin, Ireland
Died13 April 2009(2009-04-13) (aged 90)
NationalityIrish
Alma materNational College of Art and Design
Known forSculpture

The entire family (including several brothers) worked in their celebrated sculpture yard on Berkeley Road, in Phibsborough.[3]

Career

James Power studied sculpture under Oliver Sheppard and painting under Sean Keating at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin.[2]

His numerous portraits and statues of notatable people include Irish president Erskine Childers,[4] American president John F. Kennedy,[5] Irish language writer Mairtin O'Cadhain, Irish ascetic Matt Talbot,[6] Father Eugene O'Growney and Irish national anthem composer Peadar Kearney.[2]

His works were included in the Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition in 1941 and 1942[7] and he was a frequent exhibitor at the Oireachtas na Gaeilge.[2]

In 1956, after several delays he finished sculpting the 1916 memorial in Limerick from a design first proposed in 1936 by his father Albert.[8]

  • Statue of Matt Talboton Talbot Memorial Bridge in Dublin
    Statue of Matt Talbot
    on Talbot Memorial Bridge in Dublin
  • Monument to the 1916 Risingon Sarsfield Bridge in Limerick
    Monument to the 1916 Rising
    on Sarsfield Bridge in Limerick
  • Memorial to Erskine Childers (1905-1974)in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin
    Memorial to Erskine Childers (1905-1974)
    in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin

References
  1. "The makers of Michael Collins' death mask believed he was shot at close range". IrishCentral.com. 2022-08-26.
  2. Fr O"Growney statue sculptor James Power dies, aged 90, Meath Chronicle, 22 Apr 2009
  3. Acclaimed sculptor of Behan's death mask dies aged 90 by Denise Clarke, Irish Independent April 17, 2009
  4. Erskine Childers: St. Patrick's Cathedral Ireland Statues - Hither & Thither
  5. James Power's bronze bust of President Kennedy Our Irish Heritage
  6. 'Matt Talbot' (1988) by James Power Dublin City Council: Public Art'
  7. Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts, Catalogue: James Power Mapping Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951
  8. "The 1916 Memorial". Glucksman Library, University of Limerick.
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