Father Jack P. Hanlon (1913-1968) Conkers Oil on canvas, 61 x 51cm (24 x 20'') Signed Exhibited: Irish Exhibition of Living Art, 1959, catalogue no. 18 Provenance: Purchased at the IELA and...

Father Jack P. Hanlon (1913-1968) Conkers Oil on canvas, 61 x 51cm (24 x 20'') Signed Exhibited: Irish Exhibition of Living Art, 1959, catalogue no. 18 Provenance: Purchased at the IELA and sold by their family at Whytes, 19th February 2002, where purchased by the current owner. Though undated, this work was probably painted in 1959, for inclusion in that year's Irish Exhibition of Living Art. This was during the period of Father Hanlon's last curacy in Churchtown, Dublin. The boys are wearing the uniform of the De La Salle College, Churchtown. This tree was by the avenue towards the gate of the college which was then at Inishmore House on Upper Churchtown once the family home of Eamonn Ceannt, 1916 proclamation signatory. The painting depicts the common pastime of the game of conkers played by a group of four schoolboys on a bright, clear autumn day. The two figures in the foreground have already threaded their chestnuts on a string and are challenging each other, while the two boys in the background are still attempting to knock chestnuts from the tree. On their way home from school, still in uniform, the boys are absorbed in their game. A schoolbag lies abandoned on the ground with the empty chestnut shells on the left of the picture, while one of the boys carries his slung across his shoulder. Father Hanlon was known for his love of bright colours and light. he often employed both elements in his works to express mood and atmosphere. In ''Conkers'' this is certainly the case. The top half of the painting is dominated by the massive tree with tis multicoloured leaves of red, green and yellow and its striped trunk. Even the ground area is depicted by patches of colour from which the figures of the four boys emerge, dressed in bright red and grey uniforms. There is a strong feeling of innocence and joie de vivre, conveyed by the non-naturalistic colours and the quick, loose brush strokes. The lack of detail in the figures does not in any way detract from their charm. Though best known for his light and airy watercolours, Father Hanlon included many whimsical genre scenes of this nature, painted in oils, in his oeuvre. It is quite likely that ''Conkers'' was developed from a preliminary sketch made by him in a park or playground, as he rarely left home without his sketchbook and pencil. He travelled extensively and completed many paintings during these trips, but the present work is clearly set in an Irish context, though not in the Ireland of mist and rain, which never appealed to his Mediterranean sensibilities! Mary Reilly

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