Paul Henry, R.H.A., R.U.A.

Sale, James Adams, Dublin, 15 March 1990, lot 109

S. B. Kennedy, Paul Henry, with a catalogue of the Paintings, Drawings, Illustrations, Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 2007, p.287, no. 949, illustrated.

Original canvas. There is some very minor old surface craquelure in the upper left sky otherwise in good overall condition with some strong passages of impasto notably in the centre of the composition. Clean and ready to hang. Under ultraviolet light, there are some minor flecks of retouching along the upper and lower edges, a small area corresponding to the aforementioned area of craquelure and two fine vertical lines approx 2in long above the centre of the bottom edge. Held in a plaster gilt frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present work was almost certainly made from a sketchbook drawing done years earlier when the artist was living in the West of Ireland and is dated 1935-45 on stylistic grounds.  A sense of tranquillity and absence of people characterise Henry's work in these late years of his career, as does the fluid and spontaneous brushwork, which creates a minor tour de force in the foreground, and which occupies more than half of the picture plane.

We are grateful to Dr S.B. Kennedy for his kind assistance with the cataloguing of this lot.