Title: Cash Office
- Title of artwork:
- Cash Office
- Artist:
- Orpen, Richard Caulfield
- Materials:
- Paper (fiber material), Ink
- Techniques:
- Photoengraving
- Engraver:
- Photographic process
- Title of Publication:
- Handbook of Irish parliamentary houses
- Publisher:
- Alexander Thom
- Publication place:
- Dublin
- Publication date:
- 1891
- Curator Comment:
- This handbook was produced as an anecdotal guide to the Irish Houses of Parliament, College Green, Dublin, which at the time of the publication in 1891 functioned as the headquarters of the Bank of Ireland (it remains a functioning bank today). The primary text was written by Herbert Goldsmith Whitton (1869 – 1921) with contributions by W. Percy French (1854 – 1920) and an A J Fleming. Illustrations were by Ethel Kathleen French (1871-1891) wife of Percy French (1854-1920), and Richard Caulfield Orpen (1863-1938). Orpen, an architect and artist, was a brother of the painter and was an active participant of the Irish cultural revival.
- Note on artwork:
- This illustration by RC Orpen displays the grandiose interior of the bank’s public cash office. The chamber was designed by Francis Johnston (1760 – 1829), the architect employed to convert the building from a parliament to a functioning bank. Drawn in a fluid, sketchy style, the image is of a calm, working space. The perspective of the room and its architectural features are rendered swiftly and assuredly, demonstrating the hand of master draughtsman.
- References:
- Snoddy, DIB online