Richard Barrington Boyle, Carver
(b. 1811, d. 1891)
Carver
From A Dictionary of Irish Artists 1913
Was born in Dublin in 1811 and worked in his native city for many years as a wood-carver. In 1835 he was in Swift's Row, and in the following year exhibited "The Arms of the Lord Lieutenant, Lord Mulgrave, carved in Irish oak," in the Royal Hibernian Academy. In 1846 he moved to 107 Middle Abbey Street, in 1850 to 19 Mary Street, and in 1857 to 82 Marlborough Street, where he worked for many years. He was employed in St. Patrick's Cathedral at the time of its restoration, and did a good deal of the woodwork there, including the stalls of the Knights of St. Patrick, and two chairs which he carved from oak from the old roof of the cathedral. He also did work in St. Anne's and in Westland Row Church, as also in St. James's Church, James's Street, where he carved in oak the reredos or screen from a design by Patrick Byrne, architect.
Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness employed him in ornamental carving and furniture, including a large sideboard elaborately carved with arms and ornamented with a panel of an ancient Boar Hunt, and others representing Harvesting and Vine-culture. He carved, too, a panel 6 feet by 4 feet, illustrating a passage from the Iliad, "the Grecian Chiefs in the tent of Achilles." A panel carved with "The Judgment of Solomon," attracted attention in the Dublin Exhibition of 1853.
When in Marlborough Street he was assisted by his sons, Richard B. Boyle and James F. Boyle; and later the father and sons worked as ornamental cabinet-makers at 20 Upper Gloucester Street, from 1877 to 1882. Boyle died on 28th January, 1891. His eldest son, RICHARD BARRINGTON BOYLE, junr., was born about 1838, and died on 21st March, 1895. The third son, JAMES F. BOYLE, born about 1847, was a clever designer and carver. He worked for cabinet-making firms in Belfast and Dublin, and did much fine work in the carving of "Chippendale" mirrors and mantlepieces with all the skill and tradition of design of the eighteenth century. The late Sir Thornley Stoker had a pair of Chippendale mirrors done by him indistinguishable from the work of the old carvers. Not finding sufficient scope for his talents in Dublin, he went to London where he found remunerative employment. He was run over by an omnibus in Regent Street, which caused his death in Charing Cross Hospital on 28 th April, 1911.