Sir Thomas Farrell RHA, PRHA
Born 1827 (Circa)
Died 1900
Active: 1842 - 1900
Country of birth and death: Ireland
Sculptor
He was the third son of Terence Farrell and the most successful sculptor in Ireland in the second half of the 19th century. Thomas studied first in his father's studio and then at the modelling school of the Royal Dublin Society from 1842. He exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy for over fifty years and was elected its President in 1893. Farrell was responsible for many public statues in Dublin. A full list of his works is given in Roscoe (2009).
Works
Dates are usually the year a work was exhibited so may differ from date of production.
New entries have been made each time a work was exhibited. Click here for more information.
Patrick Sarsfield, Earl of Lucan, Sketch Model Design
1861
St Joseph
1851
Marble Bust of a Gentleman
1851
exb. cat. no. 373
The Lost One
1852
Design for a Monument
1853
exh. cat. no. 478
The Infant Saviour, and John the Baptist, executing in Marble
1856
Bust of the Late Thomas Farrell
1856
Meekness and Prudence - forming portions of the Monument of the late Dr. Murray
1858
Model of the late Archbishop Murray's Statue
1858
The Angelic Mission
1859
Alto-Relievo, for the Decoration of the Wellington Testimonial in the Phoenix Park
1860
Bust of the late Thomas Farrell, Esq.
1861
Bust of the late Mrs Ball
1862
Sketch - Model Design for a Statue of the late Captain Boyd, RN
1862
Statue of William Dargan, Esq.
1862
Posthumous Bust of a Gentleman
1863
sculptor unspecified, could be either Thomas or Terence Farrell
Statue of the late Captain Boyd
1863
Bust of a Lady
1864
Bust of the late Archbishop of Derry
1864
Bust of a Gentleman
1865
The late Miss Murphy of Baymount Castle
1866
The Infant Saviour and St John
1866
The late Judge Ball
1866
His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales
1868
The Little Pet - Group in Marble
1868
Bust of a Gentleman
1868
A Little Dunce
1870
The Nymph Eucharis and Love
1871
Sketch Model Design of the Statue of the late Sir John Grey
1877
Sketch Model Design of the Statue of the late Sir Alexander MacDonnell
1877
Sketch Model of Bust of the late Cardinal Cullen
1881
Playfellows
1881
The Explusion
1882
St Agnes
1883
Bust of the late Denis F. McCarthy
1883
Goodnight, Beloved
1884
Sketch, Model Design for the Marble statue of Sheil to be erected in Dublin
1884
Narcissus
1884
Richard Lalor Sheil
1885
Robert Emmet
1885
Bust of Sir George Hodson
1885
Bust of the late A. M. Sullivan
1885
A Little Dunce
1885
Telemachus and Love
1885
Statue of Dr Dease
1886
Sketch Model Design of the late Lord O'Hagan
1886
Lord O'Hagan
1887
Lord O' Hagan
1887
Sursum Corda
1888
Innocence
1888
The late E. Dwyer Gray, MP
1889
Bust of a Lady
1889
Bust of a Lady
1889
2nd 'Bust of a Lady' exhibited by Farrell in the same RHA exhibition of 1889. Listed as exhibits 500 and 501.
Poetry - one of a series of Groups
1889
Painting
1890
Sculpture
1890
Architecture
1890
Caught
1890
Bust of Lord O'Hagan
1890
Sketch Model - Design for the Statue of Lord Ardilaun
1892
Erin
1892
Fidelity
1892
Patriotism
1892
On the Sands
1893
Statue of the Blessed Virgin
1893
Sketch Model Design for the Barry Sullivan Memorial
1894
Barry Sullivan in the character of Hamlet
1894
Sir Charles A. Cameron, MD
1894
The Right Hon. Alderman Joseph Meade, PC, LLD
1894
In Rosy Bondage
1895
A Captive
1896
Playmates
1897
Angelic Succour
1898
Bust of the late Capt. Alex Henry
1898
The late V. Rev. Canon Roche, PP
1898
The late Right Hon. Sir Patrick J. Keenan, KCMG, CB, LLD
1899
The late Father Reffe, President of Blackrock College
1899
Succour
1900
By the RHA exh. of 1900, Farrell now listed as 'Sir Thomas Farrell'.
Locations
Address 132 Lower Gloucester Street Dublin | View on map
1851 (Circa) - 1859 (Circa)
Address 132 Gloucester Street Dublin | View on map
1851
Address 11 Warrington Place Dublin | View on map
1858 (Circa) - 1869
Address 106 Gloucester Street London | View on map
1877 (Circa)
Address 106 Lower Gloucester Street, North Dublin | View on map
1881 - 1896
Address 30 Mountjoy Square, East Dublin | View on map
1884 - 1888 (Presumed)
Exhibitions, Meetings, Awards and other Events
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1851
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1852
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1853
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1856
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1858
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1859
'The Angelic Mission'
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1860
'Alto-Relievo, for the Decoration of the Wellington Testimonial in the Phoenix Park'
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1861
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1862
'Bust of the late Mrs Ball '
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1863
'Statue of the late Captain Boyd'
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1863
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1864
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1866
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1868
'Bust of a Gentleman'
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1870
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1871
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1877
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1881
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1882
'The Explusion'
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1883
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1884
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1885
'Bust of Sir George Hodson'
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1886
'Sketch Model Design of the late Lord O'Hagan'
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1887
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1888
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1889
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1890
'Bust of Lord O'Hagan'
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1892
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1893
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1894
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1895
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1896
'A Captive'
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1897
'Playmates'
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1898
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1899
Multiple works
Exhibited at Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, 1900
Multiple works
Exhibited at Dublin Exhibition of Arts, Industries and Manufactures (and Loan Museum of Works of Art), 1872
1872
Fine Arts, Sculpture.
p. 80, no. 28: 'A Little Dunce'.
Owned by the artist.
p. 80, no. 29: 'The Nymph Eucharis and Love'.
Owned by the artist and offered for sale at 450-0-0.
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the eleventh (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1881
1881
Tired Playmates (cat. no. 1432, £70).
Exhibited at Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures: the fourteenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1884
1884
Sketch Model of Colossal Statue of Cardinal Cullen erected in the Cathederal, Dublin (cat. no. 2221, exhibited in Room G, not for sale); Bust of Sir George Hodson, Bart (cat. no. 2238, not for sale); Model Design for a Statue of O'Connell (cat. no. 2274, not for sale).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the nineteenth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1889
1889
'Caught' (cat. no. 1495, marble or bronze, £200).
Exhibited at Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the twentieth (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool), 1890
1890
Telemachus and Love (cat. no. 1304, plaster, not for sale); Sketch Model of the Statue of the late William Burke, Esq., erected in Taum (cat. no. 1309, not for sale).
Institutional and Business Connections
Elected to membership of Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts of Painters, Sculptors, Architects and Engravers
1860
RHA 1861,PRHA in 1894 and 'Sir Thomas Farrell' by 1900.
Officer of Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts of Painters, Sculptors, Architects and Engravers
1871 - 1900
Treasurer of RHA from 1871 to 1893.
President of RHA from 1894 until his death in 1900.
Professor of modeling at Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts of Painters, Sculptors, Architects and Engravers
1862
Thomas Farrell was appointed the first Professor of Sculpture at the RHA in 1862; by 1863, he had been succeeded by Joseph R. Kirk.
Visitor at Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts of Painters, Sculptors, Architects and Engravers
(Report of Enquiry, 1906, p. xi)
Ref. to Sir Thomas Farrell as one of the 'four Visitors', each of whom acted as informal teachers to the students in the RHA's Life School. The 'Visitors' were paid a stipend of ten shillings per visit, duration usually of 2/3 hours.
Personal and Professional Connections
Brother/sibling of James Farrell
Brother/sibling of William Farrell
Brother/sibling of John Farrell
Daughter/son/child of Terence Farrell
Thomas was the third son of Terence
Sister/sibling of Joseph Farrell
Descriptions of Practice
Listed in Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory with the Post Office Dublin City and County Directory, for the year 1861 Thom's Directory
'Stone, Statuary and Marble Yards'
Listed under Sculptors Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory with the Post Office Dublin City and County Directory, for the year 1876 Thom's Directory
Listed under Sculptors Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory with the Post Office Dublin City and County Directory, for the year 1891 Thom's Directory
Listed under Sculptors Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory with the Post Office Dublin City and County Directory, for the year 1896 Thom's Directory
Listed under Sculptors Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory with the Post Office Dublin City and County Directory, for the year 1866 Thom's Directory
1866 (Circa)
Sources
A Biographical Dictionary of Sculptors in Britain, 1660-1851
2009
pp. 423-6
Autumn exhibition of pictures, in oil and water-colours: the twentieth, 1890 Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
1890
pp. 46-48.
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1881 Walker Art Gallery
1881
pp. 81-82.
Liverpool autumn exhibition of modern pictures, 1884 Walker Art Gallery
1884
pp. 129-132.
Official Catalogue of the Dublin Exhibition of Arts, Industries and Manufactures and Loan Museum of Works of Art
1872
Fine Arts, Sculpture.
p. 80, no. 28:' A Little Dunce'.
Owned by the artist.
p. 80, no. 29:' The Nymph Eucharis and Love'.
Owned by the artist and offered for sale at 450-0-0.
Report by the Committee of Inquiry into the work carried on by the Royal Hibernian Academy and the Metropolitan School of Art, Dublin, together with Minutes of evidence, Appendices and Index, 1906
1906
p. xi.
Ref. to Sir Thomas Farrell as one of the 'four Visitors', who acted as teachers to the students in the RHA's Life School.
Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts, Catalogue of the Seventy-First Exhibition, 1900 RHA Annual Exhibition Catalogues
1900
By the RHA exhibition of 1900, Farrell listed as 'Sir Thomas Farrell'
Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts, Catalogue of the Thirty-Fifth Exhibition, 1863
1863
Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts, Catalogue of the Thirty-Fourth Exhibition, 1862
1862
The Exhibition of the Royal Hibernian Academy, 1851 RHA Annual Exhibition Catalogues
1851
The Exhibition of the Royal Hibernian Academy, 1852 RHA Annual Exhibition Catalogues
1852
The Exhibition of the Royal Hibernian Academy, 1853 RHA Annual Exhibition Catalogues
1853
The Exhibition of the Royal Hibernian Academy, 1856 RHA Annual Exhibition Catalogues
1856
The Exhibition of the Royal Hibernian Academy, 1858 RHA Annual Exhibition Catalogues
1858
Citing this record
'Sir Thomas Farrell RHA, PRHA', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib3_1202142363, accessed 19 Jun 2013]
