Sarah Cecilia Harrison RHA (1863-1941)
Blayney R.J. Balfour and Madeline, his Wife, of Townley Hall, Drogheda
Oil on canvas, 91 x 73cm (35¾ x 28¾")
Signed and dated 1910

Exhibited: The RHA...

Sarah Cecilia Harrison RHA (1863-1941)
Blayney R.J. Balfour and Madeline, his Wife, of Townley Hall, Drogheda
Oil on canvas, 91 x 73cm (35¾ x 28¾")
Signed and dated 1910

Exhibited: The RHA Annual Exhibition 1911, Cat. No.26

Provenance: The Townley family by descent and sold by them through The Gorry Gallery 1994. Later sold Adams Important Irish Art Sale September 2002 Cat. No. 65 where purchased by current owners.

This portrait used to hang in Townley Hall Co. Louth . The sitters are Blayney R. Townley Balfour and his wife Madeline. Madeline was the daughter of John Kells Ingram LLD Vice-Provst of TCD.

Sarah C. Harrison was one of the leading portrait painters of her day. She was also a great campaigner and created history as being the first woman to be elected a member of Dublin Corporation. She was an early fighter for womens rights and campaigned for the cause of Dublins poor and had an office in 7 St. Stephens Green where she weekly listened to their grievances. She was a well known campaigner for the provision of a Modern gallery for The Lane pictures. Hugh Lane had presented her 1908 portrait of Thomas and Anna Haslam, pioneers of the Irish suffrage movement, to Dublins Municipal Gallery.

 

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