Margaret Clarke

Margaret Clarke RHA (née Crilley; 1 August 1884 – 31 October 1961) was an Irish portrait painter. Life Margaret Crilley was born in Newry, County Down, Ireland, on 1 August 1884, one of six children of Patrick Crilley. Her date of birth is often given as 29 July 1888, though local records do not support this, suggesting she was born four years earlier. Having initially trained at Newry technical school with her sister Mary intending to become a teacher, in 1905, Margaret won a scholarship to attend the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. There she studied under William Orpen, who regarded her as one of his most promising students. She completed her studies in 1911 attaining an Art Teacher's Certificate, and began working as Orpen's assistant. In 1914, Margaret married her fellow student Harry Clarke, much to the surprise of their family and acquaintances. The couple moved into a flat at 33 North Frederick Street. They had three children, Michael, David and Ann. Harry's brother, Walter, married Margaret's sister, Mary, in 1915. Clarke became the director of the Harry Clarke Stained Glass Studios following the death of her husband in 1931. She died thirty years later in Dublin on 31 October 1961, and is buried in the Redford cemetery, Greystones, County Wicklow. She is commemorated with a blue plaque at her birthplace in Newry.