Vicereines of Ireland
Academic Book for The Office of Public Works
This book tells the untold story of a group of overlooked women in Irish history. The design process was integral to telling their story. The design aimed to capture the rich material world of these women, but also to reflect the humanity of their actions. The making of the book was a dialogue between the written content, the visual material discovered during the research, and current design practices. While its colour palette and end papers were inspired by original objects owned by the women, a contemporary design approach has resulted in a bold reimagining of the academic art history book.
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Download Press Kit № 135430 Academic Book for The Office of Public Works by Jurga Rakauskaite-Larkin to access high-res images, essential texts, translations, and exclusive interviews—all in one.
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Vicereines of Ireland by Jurga Rakauskaite Larkin
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Academic Book by Jurga Rakauskaite Larkin
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Jurga Rakauskaite Larkin Vicereines of Ireland
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Unique Properties
Aim of the design was to capture rich material world, and also to reflect these women's humanity. The choice of a simple cover rather than grand portrait, that mainly appear on the covers of art history books, reflects this approach. The gilded frame that usually surrounds many portraits is placed not around the portrait image but behind it, on the hard cover, allowing the image of the woman to come forward. It encourages reader to look beyond the superficial image of women as decorative partners to powerful men.
Tags
book, irishdesign, irishculture,
Production Technology
The making of the book was a dialogue between the written content, the visual material discovered during the research, and current design practices. One of the key sources used in the writing of the book was an old Italian marbled notebook that belonged to one of the women. This inspired the creation of artwork for the book's end papers. The book's colour palette was sent to an artist, who created six bespoke patterns using a traditional spot marbling technique. After selecting the most suitable, the pattern was digitally manipulated to give this traditional pattern a contemporary look.
Design Challenge
As an academic book, there were specific design conventions which had to be followed. The challenge was to strike a balance between meeting these criteria and reflecting the seriousness of the book's content, while also pushing the creative boundaries to modernise the image of the art history book. A bold colour palette, unexpected cover image (and application of it), use of a ribbon bookmark inspired by the diaries of the vicereines and the choice of contemporary serif typography all helped to overcome this challenge.
Project Duration
Project started in 2019 and was finished in 2021 in Dublin, Ireland.
Research
The research for the design grew out of several years of original research for the book. This research was carried out in public and private archives across Ireland, Britain and the USA, and attracted funding from bodies including the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art. The main sources were the letters and diaries of these women, as well as their private collections of textiles, sketches and personal objects. One of the most inspiring of these objects was the paint palette of one of the women featured in the book. The book's colour scheme was taken from the blush pink paint colours that have survived on the palette since the 1780s.
Inspiration
The book tells the untold story of a group of overlooked women in Irish history. As the wives of the countrys rulers, they were the female faces of the British administration in Ireland before independence. Even though their privileged world was one of shimmering fabrics, sparkling pearls and blossoming flowers, many of these women worked hard to relieve crushing poverty, promote Irish fashion and mitigate injustices. Despite their pioneering efforts, they have long been almost entirely forgotten in Irish history. Their story, and the value of telling it for the first time, inspired the project.
Image Credits
Image #1 Unknown artist, The Right Hon. The Countess of Buckinghamshire (detail), 1778. Reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Ireland Image #2 Ausra Lazauskiene, Marbling artist Image #4 Robert French (photographed by), The vicereine’s boudoir at the Viceregal Lodge, Dublin, Reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Ireland. Image #5 After Sir Thomas Lawrence, Lady Henrietta Cole, Lady Grantham, later Countess de Grey, National Trust, Florence Court, County Fermanagh Henri Gascar, Frances Talbot (née Jennings), Duchess of Tyrconnell, Bridgeman Images. Maria Phipps, Countess of Mulgrave, later Marchioness of Normanby Montego Bay, Jamaica, Photograph by Scott Wicking, reproduced courtesy of the Marquis and Marchioness of Normanby. Photographer: Kevin Fox, 'We Shoot'
Project Overview
Vicereines of Ireland Academic Book has been a Iron winner in the Print and Published Media Design award category in the year 2021 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
Iron Recognition
Jurga Rakauskaite-Larkin was recognized with the coveted Iron A' Design Award in 2022, a testament to excellence of their work Vicereines of Ireland Academic Book.
Jurga Rakauskaite-Larkin Press Releases
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Introducing "Vicereines of Ireland" - A Captivating Academic Book by Jurga Rakauskaite-Larkin
Jurga Rakauskaite-Larkin unveils the untold story of overlooked women in Irish history with "Vicereines of Ireland," a captivating academic book that reimagines the art history book genre.
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