As the world tunes in to the excitement of the 2024 Paris Olympics, it’s the perfect time to dive into the athletic passions of Irish artist Jack B. Yeats. Let’s explore Yeats’ love for sports through his dynamic painting “Master of Ceremonies” and his fascinating connection to the 1924 Paris Olympics.
About the artwork
“Master of Ceremonies” reflects Irish artist Jack Butler Yeats’ (1871-1957) keen interest in sports and his flair for the theatrical. Early in his career Yeats worked as a sports journalist and illustrator, and it is likely that he attended boxing matches like the one portrayed in this painting.
The figure of the referee is central, his pose and full evening attire suggesting that boxing was a gentleman’s sport. Painted in a style typical of Yeats’ later works, he uses a thick application of oil paint and vibrant strokes of colour to convey the electric atmosphere at the sporting occasion. The upright figure, together with the red horizontal rope, gives the painting a firm composition. The artist conveys entirely by non-figurative means, the excitement of the crowd in the background.
1924 Paris Olympic Games
A century ago, Yeats was awarded a silver medal at the 1924 Paris Olympics. From 1912 to 1948, art competitions were an integral part of the Olympic Games, with medals awarded in five categories: architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture. These accolades celebrated works of art inspired by sport.
Yeats won the silver medal for his painting, “The Liffey Swim,” created in 1923. This artwork vividly captures the excitement and energy of one of Dublin’s most anticipated annual sporting events on the River Liffey. Once again, Yeats’ keen interest in sports and the sense of community it evokes is evident in this piece. He would undoubtedly be revelling in the outstanding performances of our Irish Olympians.
“Master of Ceremonies” is on display in the Hunt Museum, Limerick.
“The Liffey Swim” is currently on loan to Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK and is usually on public display at the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin.
Sources
The Hunt Museum, Jack B. Yeats Master of Ceremonies.
Gould, Warwick, Yeats Legacies, Yeats Annual No. 21: A Special Issue
National Gallery of Ireland. https://sourcenationalgallery.ie/node/69
