IRWIN, John Conran. Madras 5.8.1917 — 23.2.1997. British Art Historian of India. Son of John Williamson Irwin, a coffee planter, and Ruth Leefe Robinson, soon came to England with father’s retirement and grew up in Devon and London. Worked as journalist and theatre critic. From 1939 in the army, in 1942 lamed in an motor cycle accident and 1943 sent to India, where he served in the Bengal Famine Relief Fund in Calcutta. Now became interested in Indian art. In 1945 returned and joined the Indian Section of Victoria and Albert Museum, London, as Assistant Keeper, from 1959-78 Keeper. In retirement living in Petersfield, Hampshire. In 1985 Visiting Professor of the History of Indian Art at the University of Michigan. Died after long illness. Married Helen Scott Fletcher, three sons.
Irwin concentrated on textile history, in later years also on the symbolism of Aśokan pillars and stūpas. In addition he dealt with Indian sculpture. Kept close contact with Indian colleagues and visited India several times. Part of his ideas were severely criticised by some colleagues.
Publications: A number of minor articles on Indian art since 1944.
– “The shawls of Kashmir”, Country Life Annual. L. 1950, 184-193; “The Norwich Shawl”, ibid. 1954, 136-142; “Indo-Portuguese embroideries of Bengal”, Arts and Letters. Jnl of the Royal India, Pak. & Ceylon Soc. 26, 1952, 1-9; “Reflections on Indo-Portuguese art”, Burlington Magazine 97, 1955, 386-388.
– “Late Mauryan and early Sunga ring-stones”, JRAS 1951, 1-3; “Some unknown Gupta sculptures from Sultanganj”, Art. As. 17, 1954, 34-38; “The Sañchi Torso”, Indologen-Tagung 1971, 210-223 & JISOA 6, 1975, 631-643.
– Shawls: a study in Indo-European influences. 5+66 p. 53 pl. L. 1955, 2nd abr. & rev. ed. The Kashmir Shawl. 7+61 p. 54 pl. L. 1974
– “Indian textile trade in the 17th century, Part. 1. Western India”, Journal of Indian Textile history 1, Ahmedabad 1955, 5-33; “… Part 2. Coromandel Coast”, ibid. 2, 1956, 24-40; “… Part 3. Bengal”, ibid. 3, 1957, 59-74; “… 4. Foreign influences”, ibid. 1-10.
– “Golconda cotton paintings of the early 17th century”, Lalit Kala 1959, 11-48.
– With P. R. Schwartz: Studies in Indo-European textile history. 124 p. ill. Ahmedabad 1966.
– “Towards a humanist appreciation of Indian art”, Festschrift in honour of Kunwar Mohammad Ashraf. Berlin 1966, 325-342.
– With V. Murphy: Batiks. 50 p. Large Picture Book 28. L. 1969.
– With K. B. Brett: Origins of Chintz. 8+132 p. 166 pl. L. & Toronto 1970.
– With M. Hall: Historic textiles of India at the Calico Museum, Ahmedabad. 1. Indian Painted and Printed Fabrics. 24+203 p. 90+12 pl., 2. Indian embroideries. 25+222 p. 62 pl. Ahmedabad 1971-73.
– Treasures of Indian art at the Victoria and Albert Museum. 70 p. ill. Edinburgh – L. 1978.
– “Aśokan Pillars: a reassessment of the evidence”, Burlington Magazine 115, 1973, 706-720 & 116, 1974, 712-727 & 117, 1975, 631-643 & 118, 1976, 734-753; “The Prayaga Bull-pillar: another pre-Aśokan monument”, SAA 1979. B. 1981; “The Ancient Pillar-cult at Prayāga (Allahabad): its pre-Aśokan Origins”, JRAS 1983, 253-280; “The Lāṭ Brairo at Benares (Vārāṇasī): another pre-Aśokan monument?”, ZDMG 133, 1983, 321-352; “The Heliodorus Pillar; a fresh appraisal”, Art and Arch. Research Papers 6, 1974, 1-13 & rev. in Puratattva 8, 1975-76 (1978).
– “The Stupa and the Cosmic Axis: the archaeological evidence”, SAA 1977. Naples 1979, 799-845; “The axial symbolism of the early stupa: an exegesis”, Dallapiccola et al. (edd.), The Stupa, its religious, historical and arch. significance. Heidelberg 1980, 12-36; “The Mystery of the (Future) Buddha’s First Worlds”, AION 41, 1981, 622-660, 9 pl.; “The Sacred Anthill and the Cult of the Primordial Mound”, Hist. of Rel. 21, 1982, 339-360.
Sources: Select bibliography 1944–84 in the archives of O. von Hinüber; M. Hall in http://ignca.nic.in/nl_01302.htm with photo.
Last Updated on 5 months by Admin
