Re: Re: reorganisation and destruction of irish catholic churches

John Hungerford Pollen

(b London, 19 Nov 1820; d London, 2 Dec 1902). English designer, painter and writer. Born to an aristocratic family and educated at Eton College, Eton, Berks, and Christ Church, Oxford, he spent a brief period as an Anglican clergyman under the inspiration of the evangelical Oxford movement. In 1850 he designed and painted the ceiling of Merton College Chapel, Oxford (in situ), and shortly afterwards converted to Roman Catholicism. In 1854-6, while teaching at the Catholic University, Dublin, he designed and decorated the University Church in a richly ornamented Byzantine Revival style. In Ireland he met Benjamin Woodward, architect of the Oxford Union Society, and through him became involved with Dante Gabriel Rossetti and other Pre-Raphaelite artists in painting the ill-fated wall frescoes (1857) in the Debating Hall (now the Old Library) that are now scarcely recognizable. Most of his domestic commissions evolved from his connections with the Catholic aristocracy, for example his decoration for the library of Blickling Hall, Alysham (1859-61), with patterns of dense Celtic interlace (in situ). His numerous design commissions included stained glass, tapestry, carpets (including a design for Wilton, 1877) and furniture. He was committed to the crafts revival movement, and in 1887 he co-founded, with Walter Crane, the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. As editor of the Department of Art and Industry of the South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria & Albert), London, from 1863 to 1876, he published several pioneering catalogues. Many of his drawings and watercolours are in the collection of the Royal Institute of British Architects, London.

Seems like an interesting chap…I shall endeavour to find some images of his talents & post them here..forthwith.