Gerard Dillon (1916 - 1971)
A view of Drogheda (1943)
Oil on board, 27.9 x 35.5cm (11 x 14")
Signed and dated (19)'43, title verso

Provenance: With Jorgensen Fine Art, Dublin


A view...

Gerard Dillon (1916 - 1971)
A view of Drogheda (1943)
Oil on board, 27.9 x 35.5cm (11 x 14")
Signed and dated (19)'43, title verso

Provenance: With Jorgensen Fine Art, Dublin


A view of Drogheda was most likely painted after Dillons visit to the town with Drogheda painter, Nano Reid (1900-1981) in 1943. The two friends may have arranged a sketching holiday after the opening of their group exhibition of watercolours at the Contemporary Picture Galleries in Lower Baggot Street in July, 1943. A Publicans daughter, Reid was sixteen years older than Dillon but he never viewed their age difference as an obstacle for friendship. Both artists felt strongly about Irelands cultural heritage and admitted in interviews to having influenced each others work.

This work is typical of Dillons subjects in the early 1940s which were largely focused on everyday subjects that were linked to his daily life. His style of painting was still at an early stage of development but this visit to the town and the surrounding area had a lasting impact on him. In 1944 Dillon and Reid showed works from their sketching holiday in their exhibitions in Dublin and Northern Ireland. View of Drogheda may be Drogheda listed in Dillons joint show with George Campbell at John Lambs gallery, Bridge St in Portadown in June, 1944 (Cat.22). Opened by John Hewitt, the Portadown News commented that the two artists cover a wide range of subjects and include landscape, the blitz and life in our cities and on things that are avoided by the majority of artists, but which when painted leave a valuable record of our time for future generations.(1.7.44) Dillon probably didnt intend to document this scene as a valuable record of the town but his desire to record the town and the architectural heritage in the area before Institutions were set up to protect listed buildings was a valuable record for future generations.

It has been suggested that this scene is from the south side of the Boyne looking west possibly from the vantage point of Pitcher Hill, Barack Lane or at Butter Gate. The Church across the river is probably St. Magdalens Church known locally as Dominicks Church.

Karen Reihill
November, 2018
(This writer is grateful for the assistance of Declan Mallon for his help in identifying the location of this work.)

 

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