Gerard Dillon

The Dawson Gallery, Dublin, where purchased by the husband of the present owner in 1971

The board appears sound. Some minor frame abrasions to lower edge otherwise the work appears in very good overall condition. Under ultraviolet light there appear to be no signs of retouching. Held under glass in a cream box frame with a linen mount, in good condition; unexamined out of frame.
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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 love Dillon had for the West of Ireland - for the simplicity and peace of life it represented - is well documented. Connemara provided an escape from the political strife in Belfast he had grown up with, and discovering it in the 1940s had a profound impact upon his art, infusing his paintings of the period with a compelling poeticism, directness and joyfulness.  

In the present work, such sentiments come even stronger to the fore by taking music as its subject and the freedom it represents. Music played an important part within Dillon's life and featured regularly during his stays in Connemara. He fondly recollected '...happy carefree evenings spent in the company of artist friends, George Campbell and Oisin Kelly. As night fell we set out for a pub, Campbell bringing his guitar, and Kelly his fiddle, and there over a few "jars" in a pleasant atmosphere we'd encourage the local people to sing and dance' (quoted in James White, Gerard Dillon, 1994, p.72).  

In the present work, seated upon a stool in his simple cottage, the man sings while playing his accordion, his feet tapping to the rhythm. In the background, chickens peck in the courtyard beyond which the sea can be seen. Such an existence embodies the way of life that Dillon found so alluring, enhanced by the characteristically naive painting approach which instills the work with simplicity and honesty.