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Recent major acquisitions now on view at National Gallery of Ireland. |
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Press Release February
2009 Two important Irish paintings recently acquired by the National Gallery of Ireland are now on public view. 'An Angling Party'
by Matthew James Lawless (1837-1864) which was purchased
last November at Sotheby's in London, is an accomplished genre scene
in which the artist includes himself among a small group enjoying
an angling picnic. The National Gallery has one other painting by
Lawless in its collection, entitled, A Sick Call which though
similar in composition, is quite different in tone. Lawless suffered
ill-health throughout his young life, and despite a fragile constitution
he enjoyed angling and skating as was a talented musician. He remains
an enigmatic figure whose known works in oil number just five. A particularly important
work to enter the collection is 'On the Bridge at Grez' (1884)
by Sir John Lavery (1856-1941), which was gifted to the Gallery
in December 2008 by Lochlann and Brenda Quinn (Heritage Gift). It
was painted in the 1880s while the artist was in Grez-sur-Loing
in Fontainbleau. Lavery painted scenes of Grez on at least
ten occasions. The view in this composition is unique in that he
paints the road across the bridge rather than a view from the river.
The model standing at the bridge is believed to be his fellow artist,
Frank O'Meara (1853-1888). There are already eleven works by Lavery
in the Gallery's collection. These include seven portraits, three
genre scenes and his sketch of the Ratification of the Treaty. In March, the Gallery
will display Erskine Nicol's 'The 16th, 17th (St. Patrick's
Day) and 18th March' (1856), which was purchased late last year
at the Gorry Gallery, in Dublin. The painting, which is replete
with cameos drawn from similar works by the artist, was exhibited
at the Royal Scottish Academy in 1856. It shows figures dancing,
playing music, storytelling and hawking in front of St. Doulough's
Church near Malahide, which was painted some time later by Nathaniel
Hone. This new acquisition is a testament to Nicol's technical and
narrative abilities and to his longstanding interest in Irish subject
matter. Admission is free to the National Gallery of Ireland. Contact:
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