Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 31.djvu/209

 working almost night and day in order to be first in the field. Kirk's psalter is extremely rare, but copies are in the British Museum, Advocates' (Edinburgh), and Glasgow University Libraries. In 1689 Kirk was called to London to superintend the printing of the Gaelic Bible prepared under the direction of Bishop Bedell, and published in 1690. To this version he added a short Gaelic vocabulary (6 pp.), which was republished, with additions, ‘by the learned Mr. Ed. Lhuyd,’ in Nicolson's ‘Historical Library’ (8vo, London, 1702). He had a firm belief in fairy superstitions, and wrote a curious work bearing the title of ‘The Secret Commonwealth; or an Essay on the Nature and Actions of the Subterranean (and for the most part) Invisible People heretofoir going under the name of Faunes and Fairies, or the lyke, among the Low Country Scots, as they are described by those who have the second sight,’ 1691. There have been two reprints: Edinb. 1815, 4to (100 copies), and, with commentary by Andrew Lang, London, 1893, 8vo.

 KIRK, THOMAS (1765?–1797), painter and engraver, born about 1765, was a pupil of Richard Cosway, R.A. [q. v.] He attained some excellence as a painter of historical subjects in the insipid prettiness of the time, and also as a miniature-painter in the style of Cosway. In 1765 he exhibited at the Royal Academy ‘Venus presenting Love to Calypso,’ and was an occasional exhibitor of Shakespearean, scriptural, and other subjects up to 1795, when he exhibited a number of drawings illustrating popular works of fiction. In 1796 he exhibited for the last time, sending ‘Evening’ and ‘A Dream.’ He made a number of graceful drawings, which were engraved as illustrations to Cooke's ‘Poets.’ Kirk also practised as an engraver in the stipple method, among his engravings being a portrait of the Pelew prince Lee Boo, from a drawing by Miss Keate, 1789; ‘Shepherds in Arcadia,’ after G. B. Cipriani, 1789; and ‘Titus Andronicus and Lavinia,’ from his own painting, done for Boydell's ‘Shakespeare,’ 1793. He painted other pictures for Boydell, and also for Macklin's ‘Bible.’ Kirk died of consumption 18 Nov. 1797, and was buried in St. Pancras Church. He worked on an engraving up to the day before he died. There is a pretty admission ticket designed by him for a concert of the Choral Fund at the Haymarket Theatre in 1796.

 KIRK, THOMAS (1777–1845), sculptor, born in 1777 at Newry, co. Down, was son of William Kirk and Elizabeth Bible, his wife. His parents moved to Cork when he was a child, but Kirk settled in Dublin in early life and studied sculpture in the art school of the Dublin Society of Artists. He became noted for his fine work in relief on mantelpieces, monuments, &c.; two pieces of ‘Spanish Banditti’ and ‘The Rokeby Cavern Scene’ attracted especial attention. His busts also gained him rapid reputation, and they were considered remarkable for the delicate handling of the marble and for distinctness of detail. He exhibited with the Dublin Society, and on the foundation of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1822 he was chosen one of the foundation members, contributing to their first exhibition several busts and the colossal statue of Thomas Spring-Rice, lord Monteagle, now at Limerick. Kirk was successful in the competition for the Nelson monument in Dublin, and executed the colossal statue of him on the memorial column in Sackville Street. He also executed the statue of George IV in the Linen Hall, that of the Duke of Wellington, and a model of that of George III for the bank in Dublin, which was carried out in marble by other hands. His most important work, however, was the statue of Sir Sidney Smith, commissioned by parliament and placed in Greenwich Hospital. Many busts from his hand are in the Dublin College of Surgeons, the Royal Dublin Society's rooms, the library of Trinity College, and elsewhere in Dublin. Among them are busts of Curran, Thomas Moore, J. Wilson Croker, Mme. Catalani, and other notabilities. Among his groups were ‘The Young Champion’ executed for Lord de Grey when lord-lieutenant, ‘The Orphan Girl’ in Christ Church Cathedral, ‘The Young Dogstealer’ for Viscount Powerscourt, &c. Kirk rarely exhibited in London, but he sent busts to the Royal Academy there in 1825, and occasionally afterwards. Kirk married a Miss Eliza Robinson, and died in 1845, leaving twelve children. One son, Mr. Joseph R. Kirk, inherited his father's skill as a sculptor, and is a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy; other of his sons are the Rev. William Boyton Kirk, D.D., and the Very Rev. Francis J. Kirk of St. Mary of the Angels, Bayswater, London. 