The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare: An Art Historical Investigation

Beatrice Whelan
Trinity College Dublin
Department of History of Art and Architecture
2001
BA

Subject: Architecture and Sculpture
Country: Ireland and Italy
Period: 19th Century

10,000 words

This dissertation investigates all aspects of the Gothic revival Church of St. Peter and Paul in Monasterevin, built during the famine. The author outlines the local social and religious context in which the church was built and traces the building progress of the church using primary sources. Among many issues covered is the attainment of land and building stone for the church and the question of funding the building of the church during the famine. The interior decoration and stained glass of the church is discussed using primary sources such as newspaper accounts and old photographs. The career of the architect of the church, William Deane Butler, is examined and the architecture of the church analysed in relation to the architect's other churches. The final chapter discusses the provenancing of the Italian Baroque altar rails in the church which were originally made for the church of S. Stefano in Venice.

Irish Georgian Society

Education Theses Register

The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare: An Art Historical Investigation