The School of Hibernia comes to Rome for St Brigid’s Day
The collective behind the project, Na Cailleacha — an Irish term meaning “witch,” “divine hag,” or “wise woman” — consists of six visual artists, jazz musician Carole Nelson, and curator-writer Catherine Marshall. The group came together to explore themes of female creativity, ageing, and visibility in the arts.
Curator Catherine Marshall explained the motivation behind the work:
“We talk about the visibility of women a lot in the visual arts and are rightly critical of the art historical canon. Raphael’s School of Athens fresco is a powerful illustration of how pervasive patriarchy is in all aspects of life. Na Cailleacha decided to bring living women together to celebrate all the ways in which they have challenged history in a fun and provocative way. Response to the project has been extraordinary since it was announced in 2024, and we are now delighted to be presenting the work in Rome – the home of The School of Athens.”
Symposium and screening
The Rome symposium featured a distinguished panel of speakers, including Catherine Marshall; Professor Arnold Nesselrath, art historian and former Deputy Director of the Vatican Museum Collections; Caroline Campbell, the first woman director of the National Gallery of Ireland; Professor Rachel Moss of Trinity College Dublin; and Professor Emma Teeling of University College Dublin.
Reflecting on the project’s impact, Professor Rachel Moss said:
“The School of Hibernia marks a moment in female achievement that would have been inconceivable at the start of Na Cailleacha’s careers. This play on the patriarchal canon of art history is now on display in several universities and is still enjoying international publicity. For students about to embark on their own careers, it is a celebratory reminder that the shoulders of giants are no longer all male.”
The event concluded with the premiere of Rootstock: The Making of The School of Hibernia (after Raphael), a documentary by Therry Rudin, screened at Cinema Farnese Arthouse in Campo de’ Fiori.
Celebrating St Brigid’s Day
Ireland’s Ambassador to Italy, Elizabeth McCullough, welcomed the project’s arrival in Rome:
“The Embassy of Ireland is proud to support Na Cailleacha and Ireland-Italy Projects in bringing this thought-provoking work to Rome, the home of Raphael. St Brigid’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to highlight and celebrate the many achievements of women in Ireland and around the world. This event allows us to reflect on the significant progress attained since The School of Athens was created, and the important work that remains to ensure full equality for women in today’s world.”
Ireland-Italy Projects, founded in 2024 by Brenda Moore-McCann and Jane Adams, collaborated on the Rome presentation. Speaking about the initiative, they said:
“We are enthusiastic about a project that vividly contrasts Irish contemporary culture with an icon of Italy’s Renaissance.”
St Brigid’s Day, celebrated annually on 1 February, became Ireland’s newest public holiday in 2023, honouring the country’s female patron saint and the traditional beginning of spring.
More about Ireland-Italy Projects
Ireland-Italy Projects was founded by Brenda Moore-McCann and Jane Adams in 2024 to promote cultural exchange between Ireland and Italy. Their first event introduced the historically neglected Renaissance artist Suor Plautilla Nelli (1524-1588) to an Irish audience in Trinity College Dublin in 2024. For further information contact jane@artemisiagold.org or brendamooremccann@gmail.com
Photo: The School of Hibernia (after Raphael), 2024. Credit: Na Cailleacha.
Read the full Article Here: Wanted In Rome | Ireland.ie
