Irish Cottage
Josephine Joy
ca. 1935-1938
Medium
Painting
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the Newark Museum
Accession Number
1966.31.8
Tags
dogcottagefull lengthIrelandgardenCalifornia
About this artwork
This quaint Irish cottage was probably inspired by romantic illustrations of Ireland that appeared in American travel brochures and books. The lady playing a harp, however, is based on the symbol of the Society of United Irishmen, an organization formed in 1791 to rebel against British control. Their badge combined a harp (Ireland's national icon), with the motto: "It is new strung and shall be heard."