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

Sotheby's, London, 9 May 2007, lot 52, where purchased by the present owner

Toronto, Eaton Galleries, Recent Paintings by Paul Henry, 19 September - 2 October 1936, no.17

S.B. Kennedy, Paul Henry, Yale University Press, 2000, p.281, no.919

The canvas has not been lined. There are some minor specks of surface dirt. Otherwise the work appears to be in excellent original condition. UV light inspection reveals no evidence of any retouching or restoration. Held in a simple ebonised frame and under glass.
"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 executed circa 1935-36 and selected by Henry for inclusion in his 1936 exhibition in Toronto. While the setting cannot be identified, it is almost certainly of Connemara.

The picture is imbued with a sense of freshness and freedom, the sky and clouds transient in both pattern and nature. The brushwork has been swiftly applied with a directness and assurance that show Henry at the height of his artistic powers and also recalls the influence of Henry's onetime teacher in Paris, Whistler, who taught his students that they should observe things in direct and simple terms and lay them down harmoniously in closely modulated tones. It is this approach which underpins much of Henry's best work.

During the mid to late 1930s Henry's painting had a final glorious flourish and the present work, along with similar examples such as the collection of works done in 1939 for Sean O'Faolain's book, An Irish Journey (London, Longmans, Green, 1940), can be considered as one of the best examples of this last creative surge. Within a year or two Henry suffered an illness which led to almost total blindness and the end of his painting career.

We are grateful to S. B. Kennedy for his kind assistance with the cataloguing of the present work.