7
Important Irish Art
,
wednesday 1st October 2014 at 6pm
The Roth Collection
The Deepwell Collection
Estella Solomons Collection
Adam’s are delighted to offer a collection of works (Lots 197 - 216) by Estella Solomons; an artist who is so often
overlooked. The collection includes landscapes, typical of Solomon’s oeuvre together with a wonderful collection of portraits
depicting her friends, writers and fellow republicans.
These portraits include one of the poet Ella Young (Lot 198) from Ballymena who was involved in the Gaelic Revival and
was a founding member of Cumann na mBán and Solomons was an active member of the group with her close friend
Kathleen Goodfellow (Lot 197). Other notable subjects include Erskine Childers and Darrell Figgis; both of whom were
involved in the Howth gun-running operation in July 1914.
These works were acquired many decades ago from the artist’s estate by Geoffrey O’Connor who passed away earlier this
year. Many of the portraits were included in the 1998 documentary on the artist “Estelle” by Paradox Films which was
screened here during the Summer loan show Irish Women Artists 1870 - 1970 in July this year.
Deepwell was the home of the Reihill family for over 70 years; and the collection was amassed by two generations of
the same family. John P. Reihill Snr originally bought the house and with the advice and guidance of Senator Joseph
Brennan he set about decorating the walls with pictures from the Waddington Galleries and from Leo Smith at the
newly established Dawson Gallery. He was a patron of the sculptor Jerome Connor, commissioning several works from
him directly as well as buying pieces from him and from the Waddington Galleries.
Several decades later his son John P. Reihill, who died last year, continued the family tradition of collecting. He acquired
numerous traditional works together with a collection of works by Roderic O’Conor and contemporary artworks by
artists such as Louis le Brocquy. This is the second and final tranche of Irish pictures and sculpture coming to us from
the estate of John P. Reihill.
William and Joan Roth’s introduction to Ireland began as a result of William’s passion for the literature of W.B. Yeats. He
compiled a bibliography of Yeats’ works for the Yale University Library in Connecticut. The Roth’s got married in 1947
and decided to honeymoon in Ireland. It was during this time and through his connections and literary contacts that they
developed a real affinity for the country; they in turn were embraced by Ireland’s literati.
Many decades later they purchased Hymenstown House in Cashel and they set about furnishing it in grand style. They
initially collected 18th and 19th century artworks and they frequented galleries such as Cynthia O’Connor, Oriel Gallery
and the Godolphin. Later they began to embrace 20th century pieces, some of which were bought in these rooms. The
paintings offered in this sale evidence their open-mindedness in collecting more contemporary artworks like le Brocquy,
Ballagh and Farrell which they bought mainly from the Taylor Galleries.
Despite the fact that William M. Roth was the scion of a shipping empire, he devoted much of his life to public service. He
was a philanthropist and donated the land surrounding his home in Sonoma Mountain, California to a national reserve.
William and Joan took great pleasure in forming their collection of Irish paintings over a forty year period, unfortunately
William died earlier this year, aged 97, so the Irish adventure for him has come to an end.
