A watercolour by Francis William Topham (1808-1877), Mother with Children in a Galway Cabin is the most recent acquisition to the Collections at Galway City Museum.
Born in England, Topham first visited Ireland in 1844 – 1845. His early works were usually representations of Irish life. At the time, Ireland was in the grip of the Great Famine (An Gorta Mór), one of the most tragic events in Irish history. One million people died from starvation and related diseases, while another million emigrated.
The population of Co. Galway fell from 440,198 in 1841 to 321,684 in 1851 – a loss of 118,514 people.
Topham’s painting depicts the poverty of the time reflected in the condition of the home, while at the same time, portraying the figures in picturesque costumes, a style he used regularly. He includes interesting detail including the potatoes cooking in the pot with the awaiting skib, and the hen roosting up high in the rafters.
This painting is an important addition to the Collections as a representation of a difficult time in Galway and Ireland’s history.
Explore the full Museum COLLECTION.
