— Marinari, Scene-Painter
(fl. 1809-10)
Scene-Painter
From A Dictionary of Irish Artists 1913
An Italian scene-painter and decorative artist who in 1809 came to Dublin, having previously been employed at Drury Lane theatre. He was engaged by F. E. Jones to carry out the decorations in Crow Street theatre, then being altered and improved. Marinari painted the ceiling, proscenium, drop-scene and the panels of the boxes. In the centre of the ceiling he did a large allegorical picture representing Hibernia protected by Jupiter and crowned by Mars, supported on the right and left by the emblems of the linen and woollen manufactures. Near this were figures of Industry, Mercury and others. The whole was esteemed an admirable piece of work. On the proscenium were represented Apollo and Fame. The panels between the first and second tiers of boxes were ornamented with subjects selected from Homer and Virgil; and those of the third and fourth with subjects chiefly from Fenelon's Télemaque. The drop-scene was adorned with a figure of Euterpe supported by Hercules conducting the infant Shakespeare to the Temple of Minerva; Time was represented sleeping at her feet, and on the right and left were various emblematical figures, the Muses, Fates, etc. During the riots in the theatre in 1814 the mob destroyed the panels of the lower and second tiers of boxes. Marinari also decorated the rooms in Jones's house at Clonliffe with wall paintings. These decorations were still in existence in 1861, but they have since disappeared. When Marinari's connection with Crow Street theatre ceased he probably left Dublin, as nothing further is recorded of him. For list of the subjects painted on the boxes by Marinari see Gilbert's "History of Dublin," Vol. II, Appendix.
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