Abstract:
Art has been a vehicle for the expression of one’s social, cultural and religious identities for as long
as these identities have existed in humanity. This dissertation aims to examine the Catholic art
produced by the Sisters of Mercy in 19th century Auckland, using contemporary source material
and scholarly literature to discern how this art represented the social, cultural and religious
identities of these Mercy women. Attention will briefly be drawn to the link between religious
women and philanthropy in 19th century Ireland. The history of the Sisters of Mercy at Carlow,
Ireland, and their relationship with Bishop Pompallier will be explored; this addresses the women's
religious and social identities. The effects that the Arts and Crafts Movement in Ireland may have
had on the making of the women's art is considered; this explores their social and cultural identities.
Additional elements of the Mercy women's social and religious identities are explored in the ways
in which they used every skill and influence available to them in order to financially support their
charitable work. Furthermore, artistic and symbolic elements present in a unique manuscript penned
by the Mercy women illuminate the evolved intertwining social and cultural identities of the Mercy
women from their Irish Catholic home environment and their new lives in a land foreign to them in
almost every way. These elements will be examined in relation to the predecessors from which their
inspiration and custom were drawn. The fifth and final chapter will detail the process by which
every element of this dissertation has come into being, primarily exploring how the value of this
collection came to light through the ongoing restoration of a tapestry made by the Mercy Sisters.
This circles back to the initial exploration of the Auckland Mercy collection, begun in order to
appropriately handle and address the vulnerable, fragile and damaged items (many of which were
handcrafted by the pioneer Mercy women) that possess significant historical value. Ultimately, it is
clear that the local, national and international frameworks within which the social, cultural and
religious identities of the Mercy women were formed resulted in the production of unique art and
craftwork that communicated these identities.