Famine Scalp

Artist(s): Thomas Colville Scott (Draughtsman)

Drawing of barefoot child standing in front of a famine scalp. The child is looking at the viewer, the left hand held up to his face and the right arm outstretched. <br/>
This sketch is virtually identical to an engraving entitled 'One of the "scalps," the residence of the Clare and Connemara peasantry during the year of famine' (see The Granger Collection, NYC). It is very similar to an image entitled 'Keillines, near General Thompson's property' which appeared in 'Condition of Ireland: Illustrations of the new Poor-law', <em>The Illustrated London News</em>, Jan. 19 1850.

Inscribed in Image

Caption outside of boundaries of image – Famine 'Scalp' or Hovel

Image Details

Genre	Genre painting
Technique	Pencil works
Subject(s)	Rural life
Geographical Location	Connaught – Province Galway – County Roundstone – Village – Location is approximate (on the road between Galway and Roundstone)
Keyword(s)	Cabins, Children, People
Colour	Monochrome
Dimensions	6 cm x 11 cm
Published / created	1853

Bibliographical Details

Travel Account	Ireland: Journal of a visit to Connemara
Contributor(s)	Thomas Colville Scott — Role: Author of travel text
Note	Thomas Colville Scott
Print or manuscript	Manuscript
Location of image in copy	p. 10
Source copy	National Library of Ireland MS 49525
Permalink	https://ttce.universityofgalway.ie/irelandillustrated/view/image/ii_image_1360242049
Rights	Courtesy of the National Library of Ireland

Related text from travel account

In going and returning from Roundstone, I looked at many of the rude graves in the Bogs, Quarry holes and even on the ditches, into which the unfortunate people were flung in the time of the famine of ’47. The very dogs which had lost their masters or were driven by want from their homes, became roving denizens of this district & lived on the unburied or partially buried corpses of their late owners and others, and there was no possible help for it, as all were prostrate alike, the territory so extensive, and the people so secluded and unknown. The luxurient tufts of grass and heath shew the spots where they lie. [p. 10]