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STORIES THROUGH PICTURES

Portraits at Kylemore Abbey

At Kylemore Abbey, we have lots of paintings, documents and photographs which help tell the stories of the
people who have made Kylemore their home over the last 150 years. Many of those are images we call por-
traits, let us take a closer look.

WHAT IS A PORTRAIT?

A portrait is an image used to show or record who a person is. A portrait can be either a painting, drawing,
photograph, sculpture or another artistic medium. Portraits have changed over time, just like fashion, ac-
cording to what media are available. In the past, portraits were usually in the form of paintings, sculpture
or drawings. Today, they are mostly in the form of photographs or videos. Paintings and sculpture are still
popular for special occasions.

FORMAL PORTRAITS

• Lady Abbess Butler became the Abbess of the Benedictine community (leader of the group of nuns who
live, work and pray together) in 1686. Lady Abbess Ostyn became Abbess in 1916. Each Abbess had her
portrait made to commemorate her important role.

• They both hold a crosier as a symbol of their important position in their community. A crosier is a little like
a shepherds crook and reminds the Abbess that she is like a shepherd taking care of her community.

Lady Abbess Mary Joseph Butler Lady Abbess Maura Ostyn
Oil on Board circa 1686 Photograph Circa 1916

Think About It
Continuation of tradition: these portraits are made over 200
years apart. What can you see that is the same? And what can
you see that is different?

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