Portrait of Maire Nic Shiubhlaigh (1883-1958), Actress

Máire Nic Shiubhlaigh was one of the founding actresses of the Abbey Theatre — a performer whose naturalistic style and commitment to the Irish language made her central to early Irish theatrical culture. John Butler Yeats painted her in 1904, the year the Abbey opened its doors, as part of his sustained effort to document the personalities of the Irish Revival for the National Gallery of Ireland. As father of W.B. Yeats, he had unparalleled access to this world and an acute understanding of its historical significance.

Yeats renders the young actress with a combination of physical freshness and psychological attentiveness. The face is built with careful warm tones and the pose is relaxed rather than staged. Brushwork is loose and confident throughout, with the background kept deliberately neutral.