Thomas Fitzpatrick, Draughtsman

(b. 1860, d. 1912)

Draughtsman

From A Dictionary of Irish Artists 1913

Was born in Cork on 27th March, 1860, and began his art career with Messrs. Guy the colour-printers and publishers in that city. On the expiration of his apprenticeship he found employment as a lithographic artist in Dublin, where, with the exception of a couple of years in London, he passed the rest of his life. He worked as a lithographer for the City Printing Co. and for Messrs. Woods of High Street, and was cartoonist to "The Weekly Freeman" and afterwards to "The Weekly National Press," where he made his reputation as a political cartoonist in the manner of J. F. O'Hea. He was also employed as a book and magazine illustrator, and in the illumination of addresses in which he excelled, and did much work in photo-engraving and process work. His long cherished wish to have a paper of his own was realized in 1905 when he started "The Leprachaun," a cartoon monthly, in which his best and most humorous work is to be found. He showed much fertility of invention and happy humour and had a keen eye for social abuses and hypocrisy in public life, which he never hesitated to expose with keen satire; but though he dealt unsparingly with public men, there was a humour and kindly spirit underlying his work which never left a sting behind it. As an artist in black and white, or as a painter in oil or water-colours, he might have won some distinction had he chosen to employ his talents in a wider sphere than Ireland afforded. He died on 16th July, 1912.

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