William John Dowling

William J. Dowling (1907 – 1980)

William J. Dowling was born in Dublin on 1st July 1907. His father apprenticed him to the printing trade but his artistic abilities soon became evident and he began full time classes at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art in October 1925.

He and Richard King started working in Harry Clarke’s studios in 1928 when Clarke needed assistance to meet the demand for his stained glass work, initially on a three month trial. He continued his training in the School of Art at night and having successfully completed the trial period he went on to work at the Clarke Studios for the next 45 years. One of the first windows he worked on was designed by Clarke and was of St. Brendan for the Jesuit Retreat House in Rathfarnham, presently located in Tullamore Parish Church. In the 1930s Dowling continued to work as designer and artist, and when Richard King left in 1940 he was appointed as manager of the Studios, a role he held until the company closed 1973. Throughout this period, in addition to managing the business on a day-to-day basis, he continued to design and paint windows for patrons in Ireland, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and the United States.

Dowling exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy showing eight works in the period 1940 - 1942. He was also a member of the Old Dublin Society and the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, at which he presented several papers including The Making of Stained Glass in 1950, and Harry Clarke Dublin Stained Glass Artist in 1956.

He was a strong advocate for the Irish stained glass industry, recognising its potential for employment and enhancing the country’s cultural image all over the world. He also encouraged artists to adapt their skills to new techniques and styles while still maintaining the quality and uniqueness of Irish stained glass.

Dowling continued to work as a freelance artist through the 1970s. One of his finest works in this period was for St Colmans church on Inishbofin where he was commissioned to make a commemorative window for two students from Kansas University who had drowned while visiting the island to study.

After a career spanning more than fifty years Dowling died on 19th April 1980. He had established a worldwide reputation for his work the genesis of which he acknowledged as being the seeds of earnest and sincere artistic endeavour sown by Harry Clarke in the early days of the Harry Clarke Studios.

William J. Dowling (1907 – 1980)

William J. Dowling was born in Dublin on 1st July 1907. His father apprenticed him to the printing trade but his artistic abilities soon became evident and he began full time classes at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art in October 1925.

He and Richard King started working in Harry Clarke’s studios in 1928 when Clarke needed assistance to meet the demand for his stained glass work, initially on a three month trial. He continued his training in the School of Art at night and having successfully completed the trial period he went on to work at the Clarke Studios for the next 45 years. One of the first windows he worked on was designed by Clarke and was of St. Brendan for the Jesuit Retreat House in Rathfarnham, presently located in Tullamore Parish Church. In the 1930s Dowling continued to work as designer and artist, and when Richard King left in 1940 he was appointed as manager of the Studios, a role he held until the company closed 1973. Throughout this period, in addition to managing the business on a day-to-day basis, he continued to design and paint windows for patrons in Ireland, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and the United States.

Dowling exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy showing eight works in the period 1940 - 1942. He was also a member of the Old Dublin Society and the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, at which he presented several papers including The Making of Stained Glass in 1950, and Harry Clarke Dublin Stained Glass Artist in 1956.

He was a strong advocate for the Irish stained glass industry, recognising its potential for employment and enhancing the country’s cultural image all over the world. He also encouraged artists to adapt their skills to new techniques and styles while still maintaining the quality and uniqueness of Irish stained glass.

Dowling continued to work as a freelance artist through the 1970s. One of his finest works in this period was for St Colmans church on Inishbofin where he was commissioned to make a commemorative window for two students from Kansas University who had drowned while visiting the island to study.

After a career spanning more than fifty years Dowling died on 19th April 1980. He had established a worldwide reputation for his work the genesis of which he acknowledged as being the seeds of earnest and sincere artistic endeavour sown by Harry Clarke in the early days of the Harry Clarke Studios.