ANTISELL, THOMAS CHRISTOPHER

Architect, civil engineer, and surveyor, of Dublin and Limerick. Thomas Christopher Antisell, son of Ephraim Antisell, of Shraduff House, Co. Roscommon, and his wife, Anna Maria (née Doolan), was born at Shraduff on 8 January 1845.  Details of his training are not recorded, but he was living in Dublin in 1866 when he exhibited three topographical views of Ireland at the Royal Hibernian Academy.   His next exhibits at the Academy came from Limerick addresses and consisted of ten views in all, mostly of Irish subjects but including views of Basel, Antwerp, Saragossa and Lerida, which suggests that he had made one or more visits to the Continent by this time. He had returned to Dublin by 1881 when he exhibited two further views of Saragossa and Lerida.(1)   The following year he applied unsuccessfully for one of the posts of surveyor to Dublin Corporation.(2)  He was involved in litigation in 1896(3) and 1898, and became bankrupt in 1902.(4). Lack of funds may be the reason for his exhibiting for sale six of his topographical views of Irish and Swiss subjects at the Water Colour Society of Ireland's exhibition of 1905.(5)   He died on 5 May 1916 and was buried at Mount Jerome cemetery.  He was married to Susanna McCarthy and had five children.(6)

The Irish Architectural Archive holds three undated designs by Antisell for proposed additions to St Kieran's House, Birr, Co. Offaly, for Captain Willington (Acc. 2002/173.2).

GLFI: member of Lodge 268, Dublin.(7)

Addresses:(8) 4 Upper Erne Street, Dublin, 1866; 121 George's Street, Limerick, 1874;  5 Glentworth Street, Limerick, 1876;  72 Lower Mount Street, Dublin, 1881; 59 Morehampton Road, 1887-1889; 9 Leeson Street Lower, 1894; 11 Herbert Place, 1895; 24 Pembroke Road 1896; St Ronan's, Clondalkin, 1896ca-1902;  Russell Place, Dublin, 1911.(9)

See WORKS.

References

Genealogical information is from Susanna Murdoch, great-granddaughter of T.C. Antisell, Aug 2011.


(1) RHA Index, I, 17.  The Irish Times of 27 Mar 1876, reviewing a selection of works exhibited at the RHA, described  Antisell's view of the interior of Saragossa cathedral as 'a particularly careful sketch in colour'
(2) Irish Times, 4 Jul 1882.
(3) Irish Times, 2 Mar 1896.
(4) IB 40, 1 May 1898, 77;  Irish Times, 14 May 1902..
(5) B.K. Reilly, ed., Water Colour Society of Ireland Exhibition List 1872-1994 ((1995), 7. 
(6) According to his response to questioning at a hearing relating to his bankruptcy in June 1902 (Irish Times, 4 Jun 1902), he appears at that time to have been married about seven years; his eldest daughter, Susanna, would thus have been born before her parents' marriage.
(7) GLFI archives.
(8) From Thoms' and Post Office directories and RHA Index unless otherwise stated. 98) Census of Ireland, 1911, www.census.nationalarchives.ie (last visited, Aug 2011).

2 work entries listed in chronological order for ANTISELL, THOMAS CHRISTOPHER

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Building:	CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, WELLINGTON QUAY, NO. 023-24
Date:	1872
Nature:	New tea warehouse, for Marcus T. Moses.
Refs:	IB 14, 15 Jul 1872, 194

Building:	CO. OFFALY, BIRR, ST KIERAN'S HOUSE
Date:	?
Nature:	Proposed Italianate remodelling with tower, for Capt.(Lieut?) Frederick Willington.
Refs:	Signed undated drawings (roof plan, side and front elevations) in IAA, Acc. 2002/173.2