Patron of The Arts
Martyn began writing fiction and plays in the 1880s. While his own output was never very distinguished, he acquired a well-earned reputation as a noted connoisseur of music, both European classical and Irish traditional. He was a fine musician in his own right, giving memorable performances for guests on an organ he had installed at Tullira.
Martyn used his great wealth to benefit Irish culture. His activities and sponsorships included:
- foundation of the Palestrina Choir in 1903
- funding and direction of St. Brendan's Cathedral, Loughrea
- co-founder and endowing of the Feis Ceoil
- president of Na hAisteoirÃ, the Irish-language drama group
- sponsored and guided An Túr Gloine, Ireland's first stained-glass workshop
He encouraged Hugh Lane to found an Irish national art gallery, but this was prevented by Lane's death on the Lusitania.
Read more about this topic: Edward Martyn
Famous quotes containing the words patron of the, patron of, patron and/or arts:
“In this country, the village should in some respects take the place of the nobleman of Europe. It should be the patron of the fine arts. It is rich enough. It wants only the magnanimity and refinement.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“In this country, the village should in some respects take the place of the nobleman of Europe. It should be the patron of the fine arts. It is rich enough. It wants only the magnanimity and refinement.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“In this country, the village should in some respects take the place of the nobleman of Europe. It should be the patron of the fine arts. It is rich enough. It wants only the magnanimity and refinement.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“What ails it, intrinsically, is a dearth of intellectual audacity and of aesthetic passion. Running through it, and characterizing the work of almost every man and woman producing it, there is an unescapable suggestion of the old Puritan suspicion of the fine arts as such—of the doctrine that they offer fit asylum for good citizens only when some ulterior and superior purpose is carried into them.”
—H.L. (Henry Lewis)