The beautifully presented book accompanies the exhibition curated to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Irish geologist and artist, George Victor Du Noyer. This major exhibition of his work is running at the Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, until February 2018 before transferring to the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Dublin. Du Noyer worked for the newly formed Geological Survey from 1847 to his death at the age of 41 in 1869, and is responsible for some of the early geological mapping of the island. The exhibition entitled 'Stones, Slabs and Seascapes: George Victor Du Noyer's images of Ireland', is part sponsored by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment through the Geological Survey Ireland and the majority of work on exhibition is on loan from the GSI.
George Victor Du Noyer was born in 1817 to a French Huguenot family. He grew up and was educated in Dublin and it appears showed enough artistic flare to be encouraged and taught by the artist, and later Ordnance Survey employee, George Petrie (1790 – 1866). Throughout his life, Du Noyer produced work for Ordnance Survey Ireland, the National Botanic Gardens, private commissions, and most famously, the Geological Survey Ireland. He was employed as a draughtsperson and surveyor but his observational and descriptive skills, his attention to detail, and his artistic abilities meant that he produced scientifically accurate works of art for his employers. As he was mainly a government employee, his work remained as whole collections in the ownership of the State and is now part of the Irish National Archives. Although having no official training in geology, he became a geologist through experience, presented scientific papers, became a member of the Royal Irish Academy, and was highly praised as a geologist by the great geologists of the day.
It is hoped the exhibition and associated book will bring Du Noyer's work to new audiences and a new understanding and appreciation of his work as an artist and scientist will grow.
The book was published by the Crawford Art Gallery Cork and can be purchased from GSI online shop here.