| Summary: | An essential purpose of this thesis is to map the practice and profession of sculpture in Northern Ireland 1921-51, with the view to discerning the possible development of a 'regional modernism' in the province. This survey and analysis of sculpture pays particular attention to publically exhibited works, state-endorsed commissions and war memorials, as well as examples of ecclesiastical and architectural sculpture in the province. In this study 'regional modernism' is defined as a strand of modernism that draws from the local tradition and influence of the region, while simultaneously engaging with a 'contemporary spirit'. Various approaches and strategies adopted by Northern Irish sculptors are discussed, such as; the use of local materials; the commissioning of local artists; the development of artist groups; the occurrence of regional subjects in sculpture; and the significance of native art infrastructures, in determining their role in the fostering of a regional modern art. With the aim of illuminating the previously under-estimated extent of scu.lptural practice in Northern Ireland, this study is concerned with the works of better-known artists, such as Sophia Rosamond Praeger and Morris Harding, alongside examples by lesser-known sculptors including Elisabeth Clements and James Edgar Winter. The British Empire Exhibitions in 1924 and 1938, the building of Stormont, the Ulster Unit exhibition 1934 and the Festival of Britain in 1951 were thoroughly researched and a number of primary resources and unpublished images have been uncovered. The complete absence of academic studies on Northern Irish sculpture has resulted in the need to focus on original sources from the period including: private and public archive material, business records, newspaper articles, exhibition catalogues, institutional reports, and prospectuses. In conclusion, the findings contribute to the creation of a wider and more balanced picture of sculpture, and indeed modern art, in the emerging years of Northern Ireland's history.
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