Johnny The Jig
“Johnny The Jig” - Bronze
Sophia Rosamond Praeger
“Johnny The Jig”, a bronze figure of a boy playing an accordion, is in Holywood, County Down, very appropriately placed beside a children’s playground. The play area was very busy when I arrived, so I was careful with my camera in case I upset any of the parents.
Sophia Rosamond Praeger, MBE, HRHA, MA (1867 - 1954) was an Irish artist, sculptor, illustrator and writer. She was born in Holywood, Co Down
She was the daughter of a linen exporter originally from The Hague. With her brother Robert Lloyd Praeger (later a famous naturalist and director of the National Library of Ireland), she attended Sullivan Upper school at Holywood, Co Down. Following a period at the Government School of Art in Belfast, she attended Slade in London at the age of 17.
Returning to Northern Ireland she worked from a studio in Belfast before purchasing her own studio in Holywood.
In addition to illustrating children’s books and providing botanical illustrations for her brother’s work, she exhibited sculptural works throughout Ireland and Britain.
Examples of her work can be seen in the Ulster Museum and the Ulster Folk Museum, as well as the Royal Victoria Hospital, St Anne’s Cathedral, the Ulster Hospital, Donald, and the Queen’s University of Belfast.
Mike G. said,
October 2, 2011 at 2:43 pm
It’s an interesting sculpture.
Having people in a photo can sometimes add interest, though not so much when the subject is a statue. I can certainly understand, though, not wanting to upset the parents.
Grannymar said,
October 2, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Mike - We have to be so careful these days where taking photos of children are concerned. A young mother told me recently that parents were not allowed to mingle with their own children or take photos during Sports Day!!!! The world has gone crazy.
Nick said,
October 2, 2011 at 5:37 pm
Why an accordion I wonder? Is there some kind of symbolism attached to it or did she just find it an interesting instrument to incorporate in the sculpture?
Grannymar said,
October 2, 2011 at 5:46 pm
Nick - Maybe it was an instrument in common use at that time, or perhaps it was a reminder of a young lad that she encountered on her travels. I found no trace of any story about the work.
blackwatertown said,
October 2, 2011 at 7:41 pm
The whole panic about photos of children has reached ridiculous levels.
Saw a sculpture of a heron - much bigger than lifesize - with the wings made from wired together fence posts - and thought of you.
Then I saw a much smaller real heron take off from the lake shore and fly low across the water.
cathy in NZ said,
October 2, 2011 at 8:36 pm
gosh, the photo phobia with children seems a bit ridiculous - I don’t think that is an issue here in New Zealand (yet!) - however when I think about it possibly it is because most of the mainstream photography that we see is either about events (read Rugby right now…) or nature.
however the sculpture looks very real, almost to the point of seeing pimple. So many earlier sculptures look almost unreal…
Grannymar said,
October 2, 2011 at 9:31 pm
blackwatertown - Fence posts remind you of me????
Cathy - Ireland did well playing with that funny ball today!
Johnny the Jig looked like he would step down from the rock when he finished the tune.
Baino said,
October 2, 2011 at 10:09 pm
Aww it’s lovely. You seem to have way more public sculpture around your neck of the woods that we do. Same issue with children here. Many pandering to the paranoia of the few, it’s ridiculous.
Grannymar said,
October 3, 2011 at 10:27 pm
Baino - I am noticing more sculptures these days as I go out and about.
Mike G. said,
October 4, 2011 at 12:29 am
I’ve been trying to take photos of sculptures on this trip. We’ve seen some interesting examples on this trip.
We’re currently on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Didn’t expect to have internet, but do via our cell provider.
Grannymar said,
October 4, 2011 at 6:38 am
Mike - I love your photography and seeing the sculptures will be an added bonus for me.
Brighid said,
October 5, 2011 at 7:30 am
This one is my favorite…so far…he looks so all boy. What does “the jig” mean in this context?
Grannymar said,
October 5, 2011 at 7:50 am
Brighid - A jig is an Irish dance. In days gone by, there was many a jig danced round the firesides of Ireland.
Grannymar » Openings ~ 12 said,
November 5, 2011 at 6:01 am
[...] graveyard has some interesting “residents” including members of the Praeger family, the Dunvilles of whiskey fame and Sir Joseph Larmor the world famous [...]
John Beckett said,
November 8, 2011 at 7:01 pm
The instrument Johnny is depicted as playing is a Concertina: Not an accordion. I own several Concertinas so write with some authority.
Grannymar said,
November 8, 2011 at 7:11 pm
John - How right you are, of course it is a Concertina. My mistake and I am surprised it has not been picked up by the other commenters.
cathy in NZ said,
November 9, 2011 at 1:52 am
I wasn’t even looking at the type of instrument he was playing…I was looking at the natural look guy on a rather steeply angled rock face
The All Blacks won the RWC but I’m sure the other teams did well in their right at the right time…it has now gone back to normal citizens lifestyle of getting around, nice to have our City back - even though I met some of the more colourful fans!
However, I inadvertently met an Irish guy. Who pulled out his credit card to pay his train fare (on the train, we can do that) found he couldn’t use it…said he had no money. I tried to pay (RAK) but ticket guy said “no problem” - after he moved on to another carriage; the Irish guy took out his wallet and low an behold - there was a NZ$20 note!!!
After that I didn’t feel sorry for the poor beleagued Irishman who was still upset that Ireland had finally lost…
Grannymar said,
November 9, 2011 at 8:36 am
Cathy - I should have remembered the instrument was a Concertina, or squeeze box as it was sometimes known! I have in my young days held one in my hands, It may well have been the one my grandfather used for making music.
I do hope the behaviour of the Irish guy, was a genuine mistake and not an excuse to avoid paying his fare.