This week’s #CuratorsChoice comes from Anne Hodge, Curator of Prints & Drawings:

“At a time when many families are having to home-school their children, I thought it might be interesting to see how an 18th c. miniature painter depicted a famous Irish family at work together.”

“At the centre of the composition is Richard Lovell Edgeworth (1744-1817) an engineer and inventor from Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford. Facing him is his eldest daughter, the famous novelist Maria (1767-1849)."

"His third wife Elizabeth Sneyd (standing holding a baby) and numerous other children look on.

In 1798 Maria and her father published a two volume treatise 'Practical Education', which became an acclaimed manual for child-rearing."

"Key ideas included encouraging hands-on learning and experiment. Above all, children were to be encouraged to 'learn from their own experience a just confidence in their own powers.'"

(love this! )

"Other successful siblings included William, a civil engineer who built some of the first roads in the west of Ireland; the influential economist Francis Ysido; and botanist and pioneer of photography Michael Packenham Edgeworth."

Portrait by Adam Buck, 1787.

Thanks Anne!

Anne was appointed Curator of Prints and Drawings in 2001. Exhibitions she has worked on include both our recent photography exhibitions; Drawing Dublin; Canaletto and the Art of Venice and our upcoming George Wallace exhibition.

#IrishMuseumsOnline