Rediscovering Jenny Simont Ireland

Rediscovering Jenny Simont Ireland
Provided

Curated by her son Sumner Ireland, the upcoming show “Jenny Simont Ireland: A Painter’s View,” opens Saturday, May 25 (and runs through July 6) at The Cornwall Library, offering viewers a glimpse into the treasure trove of work that the artist created over her long life.

Ireland was born in Paris in 1919 to Catalan parents. Guided by her father, José Simont Guillen, an esteemed illustrator and recipient of the French Legion of Honor, Ireland honed her craft at the renowned Académie Julian and Studio Bornet in Paris. Her talent was recognized early on, with an exhibition at Gallerie Charpentier at the tender age of 18.

Living interchangeably in Paris, Barcelona, and New York, Ireland’s artistic pursuits intertwined with her diverse experiences. While she rarely exhibited publicly, her paintings found homes among family and friends, spanning continents and cultures. Notable exceptions include showcases at the Friends of Rose Algrant Show in Cornwall and a memorable exhibition at The Cornwall Library in 2013.

Sumner Ireland fondly remembers his mother’s artistic milestones, from celebratory Italian dinners to exhilarating go-karting adventures in Torrington. “I have taken around 30 plus painting down to the art show and they’re ready to be hung…I don’t have that many left, actually,” said Sumner from his home in Sharon. While he shared that he has mixed feelings about parting with his mother’s work, he added, “My idea is that these things have been following me and my mother around for many years. They’re on people’s walls and the rest are in the basement. We have dehumidifiers going all the time but even so, I’d much rather have them on people’s walls than in my basement.”

Ireland’s passion for painting remained unwavering throughout her life. She died peacefully in 2014 after a short stay at Noble Horizons in Salisbury.

All paintings displayed are available for sale, ensuring her artistic legacy endures for generations to come. An opening reception will be held May 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. Registration is requested for the reception on www.cornwalllibrary.org.

Latest News

Sharon Dennis Rosen

SHARON — Sharon Dennis Rosen, 83, died on Aug. 8, 2025, in New York City.

Born and raised in Sharon, Connecticut, she grew up on her parents’ farm and attended Sharon Center School and Housatonic Valley Regional High School. She went on to study at Skidmore College before moving to New York City, where she married Dr. Harvey Rosen and together they raised two children.

Keep ReadingShow less
‘Garland Jeffreys: The King of In Between’ at the Moviehouse

Claire and Garland Jeffreys in the film “The King of In Between.”

Still from "The King of In between"

There is a scene in “The King of In Between,” a documentary about musician Garland Jeffreys, that shows his name as the answer to a question on the TV show “Jeopardy!”

“This moment was the film in a nutshell,” said Claire Jeffreys, the film’s producer and director, and Garland’s wife of 40 years. “Nobody knows the answer,” she continued. “So, you’re cool enough to be a Jeopardy question, but you’re still obscure enough that not one of the contestants even had a glimmer of the answer.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Haystack Book Festival: writers in conversation
Jerome A. Cohen, author of the memoir \u201cEastward, Westward: A Lifein Law.\u201d
Jerome A. Cohen, author of the memoir \u201cEastward, Westward: A Lifein Law.\u201d

The Haystack Book Festival, a program of the Norfolk Hub, brings renowned writers and thinkers to Norfolk for conversation. Celebrating its fifth season this fall, the festival will gather 18 writers for discussions at the Norfolk Library on Sept. 20 and Oct. 3 through 5.

Jerome A. Cohen, author of the memoir “Eastward, Westward: A Lifein Law.”Haystack Book Festival

Keep ReadingShow less