Mr George Atkinson ARHA, ARCA
Died 24 March 1941
Active: 1911 - 1941
Country of birth and death: Ireland
Headmaster of art school
Obituary/Death of...announced in the Director's Report of the National College of Art,p. 6, 1940-1941:
'It is with very deep regret that the death, on the 24th March, 1941, of the Director, Mr. George Atkinson, RHA, ARCA, is recorded. Mr. Atkinson had been associated with the Metropolitan School of Art for over 30 years - first as an Art Inspector under the Dept of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, to which position he was appointed in 1911 following a brilliant course in the Royal College of Art, London, where he obtained his Associateship with distinction. In 1914 he was appointed Second Master of the Metropolitan School of Art, and Headmaster in 1918. On the reconstitution of the Metropolitan School as the National College of Art he was appointed Director'.
Obituary also recorded that Aktinson was a native of Cork. So may have also attended or taught at the Crawford School of Art.
Institutional and Business Connections
Elected ARCA Royal College of Art (including National Art Training School)
1915
p. 1, Atkinson listed as ARHA, ARCA and 'Second Master' of the school.
Elected ARHA Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts of Painters, Sculptors, Architects and Engravers
1915
p. 1, Atkinson listed as ARHA, ARCA and 'Second Master' of the school.
Officer of Aonach Tailteann (Ancient Games of Tara)
1922 - 1941
Letter of Condolence from the Aonach Tailteann, addressed to the NCA, Dublin, on the death of Headmaster, George Atkinson, signed by O'hUadhaigh, 'Deputy Director'.Letter records the manner in which George Atkinson had served as 'the Hon. Treasurer of the Games held in 1924, 1928, 1932, had become a Trusee of the Aonach Tailteann and the Chairman of the Finance Committee, besides having successfully organised the Art Section each time'.
Principal of Metropolitan School of Art, Dublin
1 October 1918 - 31 May 1941
Appointed Headmaster of the the school on Oct. 1st, 1918, until his death in 1941.
In 1936, the post was re-titled 'Director'.
Studied at Royal College of Art (including National Art Training School)
October 1905 - February 1910
A 'G. K. Atkinson' is listed as a student at the College for five years. One of Atkinson's subsequent professions after leaving the College is described as teaching master in Ireland: see 'Register of R. C. A. Students' (1907-1924), p. 22.
Teacher at Metropolitan School of Art, Dublin
1914 - 1918
p. 1, Atkinson listed as ARHA, ARCA and 'Second Master' of the school.
Appointed 'Second Master' on Oct. 6th 1914 and subsequently appointed 'Headmaster' in Oct. 1918.
Personal and Professional Connections
Fellow committee member with Colm O' Lochlainn
1936
Fellow committee member with Sean O' huadhaigh
1936
Sources
Metropolitan School of Art, Dublin - Prize List and Awards, 1915 Annual Distribution of Prizes
1915
p. 1, Atkinson listed as ARHA, ARCA and 'Second Master' of the school.
Register of Royal College of Art Students, 1907-1924 Royal College of Art
1907
p. 22.
Citing this record
'Mr George Atkinson ARHA, ARCA', 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_1216217767, accessed 26 Sep 2023]
