Gerard Dillon’s 1952 portrait of his fellow artist Dan O’Neill graces the catalogue cover for Whyte’s sale of Important Irish Art in Dublin on November 30. Based on the quality of works on offer and a new confidence in the salesrooms of Ireland Whyte’s remain optimistic about this sale of 161 lots. The portrait, for instance, has been singled out twice for exhibitions at retrospectives in 1972 and 2003. It is from a key point in Dillon’s career. By 1952 he had established himself as a painter and was closely involved in many of the exhibitions and organisations promoting and supporting visual art in Ireland North and South. He would go on to represent Great Britain in the Pittsburgh International exhibition in 1958 and the Guggenheim International, where he represented Ireland in 1958 and 1960.
Dillon’s contemporaries also shine in this sale with works by Dan O’Neill, Nano Reid and Norah McGuinness. There is a strong selection of works by William Conor showing aspects of life in Belfast and an iconic West of Ireland landscape by Paul Henry. The sale will be held at the RDS and the catalogue is online.