Constance Markievicz 1868 – 1927
(née Gore-Booth)
Painter, Irish nationalist, labour activist, suffragette.
4 February 1868 – 15 July 1927
Education:
Taught by governesses at home.
Registered 1892-3-1897 Slade School of Art, Bloomsbury. (Moved to London as few opportunities for a woman to study at an art school in Ireland.)
1898 Académie Julian, Paris.
Some Key Achievements and Interests
During the famine of 1879-1880 became concerned with the welfare of the poor, a concern which dictated her political activism and rejection of her aristocratic background.
While at the Slade became politically active.
Was a lifelong advocate for women’s suffrage and campaigner for the rights of women.
1892 Joined the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS).
Gained a reputation as a landscape painter.
1905 Played a role in the founding of the United Arts Club.
Understood how portraiture could be used for political expression and propaganda and exploited this eg presented herself as Joan of Arc.
1908 Joined Sinn Féin and Inghinidhe na hÉirann (Daughters of Ireland).
Helped to found and became a regular contributor to Bean na hÉireann (Women of Ireland), the first women’s nationalist journal in Ireland.
1909 Founded Fianna Éireann, Warriors of Ireland, which trained teenagers in the use of firearms.
1914 Co-founded the Irish Neutrality League.
1915 Co-founded the Irish Workers’ Co-operative Society.
28 December 1918 First woman to be elected to the UK House of Commons for the constituency of Dublin St Patrick’s; However, as an Irish Nationalist did not take her seat (along with other Sinn Féin MPs).
Served as Minister for Labour in the Irish Revolutionary Parliament, the only female cabinet member for nearly 60 years.
Issues
Faced opposition from her parents in her determination to study art.
Had a difficult relationship with her daughter who lived for most of her childhood with her grandparents and from whom she became estranged.
Took the role of mother to Nicolas, her husband Count Markievicz’s child by his first wife. Nicolas’ return to Poland distressed her.
1913 Her husband left Ireland to live in Ukraine though husband and wife kept in contact.
During much of her political activism was arrested and held in prisons in Britain and Ireland.
Connection to Bloomsbury
The Slade School of Art
Female Network
Blanche Georgiana Vulliamy, sister Eva Gore-Booth, Helena Moloney, Maude Gonne, Sarah Purser.
Works:
See Constance Markievicz Internet Archive (marxists.org)
For some artworks see https://www.mutualart.com/Artist/Constance-Markievicz/36579025DFC4DE5D/Artworks
Further Reading:
https://www.dib.ie/biography/markievicz-constance-georgine-a5452
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constance_Markievicz
Markievicz, Constance. “Women, ideals, and the nation.” Dublin: Inghinidhe na hEireann (1909). https://cartlann.org/dicilimt/2023/04/WomenIdealsAndTheNation.pdf
Daughters of Wealth, Sisters in Revolt | History| Smithsonian Magazine
Constance Markievicz | Irish Volunteers.org
Constance Markievicz: The making of a rebel Countess – The National Archives blog
Constance Markievicz: 1916 and beyond – The National Archives blog