Welcome to the website that celebrates the work of Irish artist Joseph Quilty. Joe was born in Limerick City, Ireland on the 7th May 1914 and spent his whole life painting and drawing. He painted landscapes of the Burren region of Clare and Connemara, County Galway and also ‘still lifes’ and landscapes of London, Southwest France, West Cork and Cyprus.
As a young man, he moved to England to head up the family’s shipping business and while in London he met and painted with other Irish artists, Gerard Dillon, Arthur Armstrong and George Campbell. Joe studied at Arthur Segal’s School of Art, took part in Dillon’s art classes and later studied under German artist Walter Nessler. He was able to paint in a realistic style but, as his style evolved, used heavy impasto and was increasingly influenced by the impressionists, especially Paul Cezanne. He loved experimentation with different subjects, styles and media – though the Burren, Impressionism and Oils were his first love
Throughout most of his life Joe combined the roles of artist, business man and family man and his works only occasionally appeared in group shows including the Irish Exhibition of Living Art, the Irish Universities Club and Group of 12 at the Cooling Gallery, London. His reputation as a painter was finally established after returning to Ireland in 1978 to live by the sea at Doorus, Kinvara, County Galway. This location proved to be crucial for his artistic inspiration, being within easy reach of the wild, beautiful, Burren and Connemara regions. He would pack up his paint boxes, palettes and trusty fold-up easel and head off for a day or two of painting ‘en plein air’ (Irish weather permitting). Able at last to paint full time with the encouragement and support of his wife, Anne, the seventeen years until his death in 1995 was a prolific period marked by four acclaimed one-man exhibitions at the Kenny Gallery in Galway. The same gallery staged a large retrospective exhibition as part of Galway Arts Festival in July 1999 – Joseph Quilty, A Celebration.
A man who could paint pictures also with words, he described the Burren region as “my place of mystery and silence, with eternity punctuated by the plaintive cry of the curlew”.
As well as Galway, Joe’s paintings have been exhibited in Dublin, London and Toronto and they hang in private collections in the US, Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, Spain, Britain and Ireland. In his lifetime he sold hundreds of paintings, however his works seldom appear at auction. It appears that those who own ‘a Joe Quilty’ do not want to part with them.
A full biography of Joe can be found in the Dictionary of 20th Century Irish Artists (2002, 2nd Edition) by Theo Snoddy.
Artist Work
![Burren view with gladioli](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/20171221_152134-1-510x382.jpg)
![Dordogne summer](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/20171221_150950-510x382.jpg)
![Seashore with breaking waves](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/20171221_150354-510x382.jpg)
![Doorus, Martello Tower](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/20171221_150237-510x382.jpg)
![Man with boat](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/20171221_150219-510x382.jpg)
![The house with the castle](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/20171221_145028-510x382.jpg)
![Old railway station, Ardrahan](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-084.jpg)
![Corcomroe](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-083.jpg)
![Two men meeting](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-082.jpg)
![Bathers](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-081.jpg)
![Sketch of Gerard Dillon](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-080.jpg)
![Man in a bottle](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-079.jpg)
![Starry night in the Burren](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-078.jpg)
![Connemara summer](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-077.jpg)
![Galway Bay from Doorus](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-076.jpg)
![Two men in a curragh](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-075.jpg)
![Oysters in a view](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-074.jpg)
![Burren mountain](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-073.jpg)
![Fruit bowl with view](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-072.jpg)
![Joseph Anthony](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-070.jpg)
![Cart track](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-069.jpg)
![Homage to Vincent](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-068.jpg)
![Man resting](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-067.jpg)
![Curragh men](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-066.jpg)
![Burren layers](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-065.jpg)
![Dordogne colours](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-064.jpg)
![Night scene, oil lamp](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-063.jpg)
![Still life with statue](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-062.jpg)
![Blue scene](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-061.jpg)
![Connemara](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-060.jpg)
![Man with sickle](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-058.jpg)
![Thorballylee](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-057.jpg)
![Midnight stream](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-056.jpg)
![Man on the shore](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-055.jpg)
![Anne in the window, evening](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-054.jpg)
![On the road to Abbey Hill](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-053.jpg)
![Parkroe](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-052.jpg)
![Birds in the bush](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-051.jpg)
![Feeding time](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-050.jpg)
![Bathers, blue pool](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-049.jpg)
![Kathleen dans le verger](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-048.jpg)
![Dordogne study](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-047.jpg)
![Burren blues](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-045.jpg)
![Deserted village, Burren](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-043.jpg)
![Rolling blue hills](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-042.jpg)
![Ogham stone](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-041.jpg)
![Ruined cottage, Doorus](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-040.jpg)
![Still life with onion](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-039.jpg)
![Poppies and Butterflies](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-038.jpg)
![Corcomroe Abbey, below Abbey hill](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-037.jpg)
![The artist’s socks](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-036.jpg)
![Fishermen with hookers](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-035.jpg)
![Burren abstract](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-029.jpg)
![Still life with violin and bust](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-023.jpg)
![Sunset over the Burren](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-022.jpg)
![Stormy night](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-021.jpg)
![Burren wilderness](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-020.jpg)
![Abstract in green](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-019.jpg)
![Red roof, Burren](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-017.jpg)
![Artist at work](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-016.jpg)
![Blue pool, Burren](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-015.jpg)
![Homage to Duchamp](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-014.jpg)
![Dark sea, Galway Bay](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-013.jpg)
![Still life with castle](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-012.jpg)
![Bog oak monster](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-011.jpg)
![Gleninagh castle, near Ballyvaughan](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Dad-painting-1-010.jpg)
![White horses on Galway Bay](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/072-510x382.jpg)
![Camden Lock, London](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2013-01-02-11.35.41-510x382.jpg)
![Breaking waves, old windmill, Doorus](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2013-01-02-11.36.10-510x382.jpg)
![Landscape with legs](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2013-01-02-11.40.33-510x382.jpg)
![Kinvara study in cream](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2013-01-02-11.40.06-510x382.jpg)
![Galway harbour](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2013-01-02-11.38.19-510x382.jpg)
![Mikey off to cut the hay](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2013-01-02-11.41.13-510x382.jpg)
![Dark blue sea](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-13.50.50-510x382.jpg)
![Aughinish Bay with Abbey Hill](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-13.56.09-510x382.jpg)
![Corcomroe Abbey with trees](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-13.57.09-510x382.jpg)
![Brulea, West Cork](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2013-01-02-11.36.37-510x382.jpg)
![Holy well, Burren](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-13.58.12-510x382.jpg)
![The retreat of the aggressors 66](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/The-Retreat-of-the-Agressors.jpg)
![Fishing off the pier, Connemara](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2012-07-30-11.51.44-510x382.jpg)
![Bog cotton, Connemara](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2012-07-30-11.50.53-510x382.jpg)
![Wildflower meadow](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2012-07-30-11.49.18-510x382.jpg)
![Sunflowers, Dordogne](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2012-07-30-11.48.44-510x382.jpg)
![Gort with yellow irises](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2012-07-30-11.48.21-510x382.jpg)
![Among the vines, Thenac](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.47.15-510x382.jpg)
![Burren study](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.46.31-510x382.jpg)
![l’Enclos with Thenac church, Dordogne](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.46.16-1-510x382.jpg)
![Trees, Dordogne](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.46.02-510x382.jpg)
![Oystercatchers](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.45.53-510x382.jpg)
![Coastal houses](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.45.44-510x382.jpg)
![Near Thenac, Dordogne](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.45.32-1-510x382.jpg)
![April is the cruellest month](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.45.03-510x382.jpg)
![The grey hill](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.44.45-510x382.jpg)
![Beach stroll](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.44.17-510x382.jpg)
![In the bee-loud glade, Thorballylee](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.43.55-510x382.jpg)
![Meadow grasses](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.42.48-510x382.jpg)
![Kilrush and Scattery Island](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.42.33-510x382.jpg)
![l’Enclos,Thenac, Dordogne](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.42.12-510x382.jpg)
![Tree climbing, Parkroe](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.41.57-510x382.jpg)
![Spanish Arch Galway 1959](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-31-18.45.03-1-Copy-3-1-e1511975268412.jpg)
![Corcomroe Abbey, County Clare](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-14.02.04-510x382.jpg)
![Fertile rock, Burren](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-14.03.12-510x382.jpg)
![Killary harbour, Connemara](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-14.04.10-510x382.jpg)
![Connemara, quiet moment](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-14.05.13-510x382.jpg)
![Michael on wheels](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-14.06.08-510x382.jpg)
![Teatime Parkroe with Michael McCormack and Johnny Vasey](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-14.07.13-510x382.jpg)
![Sailing boats, Galway Bay](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-14.11.32-510x382.jpg)
![Burren abstract five](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-14.12.53-510x382.jpg)
![Oranges on plate, after Cezanne](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171129_112158-510x382.jpg)
![I will astonish Galway with my apples](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171129_112147-510x382.jpg)
![Dunguaire castle blue room view](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-14.15.21-510x382.jpg)
![Martello tower with rainbow , Aughinish, County Galway](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-14.16.44-510x382.jpg)
![Currach rowers, Connemara](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-14.22.11-510x382.jpg)
![Houses with yellow blossom](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-12.01.34-510x382.jpg)
![Kinvara seafront](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-12.02.10-510x382.jpg)
![Kinvara](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171128_123001-510x382.jpg)
![Kinvara, County Galway](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171128_123001-510x382.jpg)
![Dunguaire castle, Kinvara](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171128_123039-510x382.jpg)
![New Quay from Aughinish, Co. Clare](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171128_123218-510x382.jpg)
![Fir trees, Burren](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171128_123322-510x382.jpg)
![Old tidal mill, Doorus, Kinvara](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171128_123536-510x382.jpg)
![Burren lake with birds](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171128_124011-510x382.jpg)
![The rookery, Burren, County Clare](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171128_124228-510x382.jpg)
![House at Cloosh, Doorus, Co. Galway](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171128_125022-510x382.jpg)
![Marshy land, Burren](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171128_125155-510x382.jpg)
![Bell Harbour, County Clare](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171128_124416-510x382.jpg)
![Abbey hill, Burren from the artist’s garden](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171128_124557-510x382.jpg)
![Kinvara in the rain](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171127_160151-510x382.jpg)
![Kinvara with Burren Hills](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171127_160219-510x382.jpg)
![Kinvara meeting, Micko Fahy](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171128_142056-510x382.jpg)
![Late self portrait](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/self-portait-510x382.jpg)
![Deep in the Burren](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-31-17.36.19-510x382.jpg)
![Drying turf, Connemara](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-31-18.44.01-510x382.jpg)
![Quiet day, Kinvara](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-31-18.44.20-510x382.jpg)
![Building site, London](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-31-18.44.50-510x382.jpg)
![Shannon estuary and Scattery island from Cappagh](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-31-18.45.16-510x382.jpg)
![Road from Kinvara to the Burren](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/073-1-510x382.jpg)
![Still life with yellow easel](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Apple-and-painting-510x382.jpg)
![Still life with silver coffee pot](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.47.35-1-510x382.jpg)
![Still life with armagnac and apples](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.47.48-1-510x382.jpg)
![Herrings and Apple](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.53.28-510x382.jpg)
![Still life with flowers in earthenware jug](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.49.34-1-510x382.jpg)
![Still life in dark room](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2013-01-02-11.39.36-510x382.jpg)
![Still life with port bottles](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2013-01-03-12.36.07-510x382.jpg)
![Still life with green glass jug](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2013-01-04-12.36.30-510x382.jpg)
![Still life with violin and paint brushes](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-13.54.14-510x382.jpg)
![Still life with fish and decanter](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-14.02.35-510x382.jpg)
![Still life with daffodils](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-10-29-14.18.11-510x382.jpg)
![Still life with flowers](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-31-17.36.33-510x382.jpg)
![Still life with geranium](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-31-17.36.57-510x382.jpg)
![Still life with roses](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-31-18.44.40-510x382.jpg)
![Still life with blowlamp](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-31-18.45.28-510x382.jpg)
![Still life with violin and bust](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-31-18.45.34-510x382.jpg)
![Still Life with teapot](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2012-07-30-11.53.48-510x382.jpg)
![Galway hookers from the artist’s window, Doorus, Kinvara](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Sea-scape-1-510x382.jpg)
![The Burren](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/walls-and-fields-510x382.jpg)
![Kinvara from the Gort Road in blue](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Village-by-night-510x382.jpg)
![Dun Guaire Castle, Kinvara: exhibition poster](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/castle-510x382.jpg)
![Foggy day, Dun Guaire Castle, Kinvara](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/castel-in-mist-510x382.jpg)
![Setting sail, Galway Bay](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Sea-scape-2-510x382.jpg)
![Gerard Dillon and his cat, 102 Abbey Road, London](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Bird-in-tree-510x382.jpg)
![Young Joseph, self portrait](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Self-Portait-feature-510x382.jpg)
![Harbour, homage to Dufy](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/22519563_1860329864279829_6015879376481267288_n-510x382.jpg)
![Fish on bowl](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/H0157-L83867203_mid.jpg)
![Galway Bay from the artists home, Doorus, Kinvara](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/KART010825-510x382.jpg)
![Thorballylee, home of WB Yeats](http://josephquilty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/castel-e1511451856305.jpg)