STONE-WORK
Collective Achievement in Anglo-Irish Stone Production, 1700-1800
Architecture is most often celebrated for its affecting designs and visionary architects, and not for the materials and hands that bring these ideas to life. STONE-WORK, a five-year project, funded by a European Research Council Advanced grant, aims to shift the spotlight to the untold story of stone – a journey from quarry to building site that highlights the essential roles of craftsmen, communities, and materials in the creation of architecture.
STONE-WORK proposes that every building is the result of a complex chain of actions involving many contributors, from quarrymen and suppliers to stonemasons and carvers. By tracing the path of stone from raw material to architectural elements – walls, floors, columns, and more – this research reveals the intricate web of skills, techniques, and collaborations that make construction possible.
Bringing together experts in architecture, craft history, and geology, STONE-WORK offers the first comprehensive look at how stone shaped the classical architecture of eighteenth-century Britain and Ireland. This project is a deep dive into the heart of architectural production, exploring how the relationship between material, design, and craftsmanship influenced not just individual buildings, but the communities that built them.
News
A new article by Christine Casey explores the Irish commissions of a sculptor from Carrara
The identification of the sculptor from Carrara, Pietro Lazzerini (1842-1918), as the author of the highly accomplished sculptures for the cathedrals of Armagh and Monaghan north of Dublin has allowed new research on the relations between Ireland and Carrara between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Unpublished documents have been found in the parish archives of these cathedrals, showing the true extent of the role played by the Irish clergy in the art commissions of the time. The correspondence of James Donnelly, bishop of Clogher (1865-1893) in Monaghan, shows the direct relationship with Pietro Lazzerini, whom he was a guest at Carrara in the winter of 1888.
This article, which developed out of a recent collaboration between STONE-WORK and the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Carrara underlines the continuity of skills and trade routes and richness of the 19th century record as a window into historic practices.
Christine Casey, ‘Evidence for the work of Pietro Lazzerini in Irish Archives: preliminary findings and an unpublished document’, Marmora et Lapidea 5-2024: 111-129.
Image: Pietro Lazzerini, figures from North Transept, Saint Macartan’s Cathedral, Monaghan. Photograph by Karl Pederson, conservation architect.
Events
June 23
Venue
Neill Lecture Theatre, Trinity Long Room Hub Arts and Humanities Research Institute,
Trinity College Dublin,
Dublin
Conference The Stone Industry in Britain and Ireland, 1700–1800
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Funding Statement
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. This work is supported by an ERC grant (STONE-WORK, 10.3030/101096629).
