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Gerard Dillon RHA RUA (1916-1971)
The Jockey
Oil on board, 63.5 x 73.2cm (25 x 30”)
Signed and inscribed with title verso
Provenance: George Waddington Galleries, Montreal (label verso)
Exhibited:
Ulster Artists
Exhibition,The Ava Gallery, April 2010, Cat No. 9;
Ireland: Her People and Landscape
,The Ava Gallery, June 2012 - Sept 2012, Cat. No. 10; and
Gerard Dillon, Art and Friendships
, Adam’s, Dublin, July 2012, and The Ava Gallery, Clandeboye, August 2012,
Cat. No. 48
Literature:
Ulster Artists
2010, illsutrated p.10
Ireland: Her People and Landscape
2012, illustrated p.17; and
Gerard Dillon, Art and Friendships
, Karen Reihill 2012, illustrated p.53
Omey Island is a tidal island close to Claddaghduff on the western edge of Connemara. Surrounded by views of the sea in
one direction and the Twelve Pins in the other, the mile long beach only appears as the tide recedes. Annually, in August, at
low tide a makeshift track is constructed. Jockeys, and horses are quickly groomed and exercised.The race against the threat
of the tide and prize begins. After six hours, the sea returns and swallows up everything in its path. The island itself remains
a place of devotion to Saint Feichín, with a medieval granite church, holy well, and the ruins of Teampal Feichín.
The artist exhibited three Omey Island paintings in his first solo show with Victor Waddington Galleries in 1950. These
included
Omey Island Regatta
,
Omey Island Strand
and
Omey Island Race Day
. Other titles from this series of works include
Before the Races, Omey Island Spectators Omey Island Race Day,
and
Omey Island Ponies
. This painting,
The Jockey
belongs to this
series of paintings.
In August 1950, several friends stayed with Gerard Dillon in Moyard, including a group of Australians he met at the Abbey
Arts Centre, Hertfordshire in the late 1940’s. This included the art historian Bernard Smith.
After Smith’s departure from Dillon’s cottage, Dillon wrote to him giving him an account of his life as Smith had undertaken
to write an article on the artist for the
Envoy
magazine. Dillon also spoke about a series of painting he had executed from
a day trip he took to Omey Island. He described the events “…The Jockeys were local boys from Omey and some girls too.
People were barking on the beach and there was great excitement. With the clouds racing in the sky over the Twelve Pins
and the mainland looking most strange with crags in every field and stonewalls around the crags-you’d have loved it and the
whole day without rain, not even a shower. I’ve painted some of the subjects.”
In 1998, the artist’s Biographer James White cited this painting “.. a fascinating example of Dillon’s work because it reflects
the humour attitude to life in the West of Ireland The jockey has mounted the two little girls on his horse and stands holding
the horse steady by the reins, as if posing for the artist, presumably responding to his request for a few moments while he
makes a little sketch for subsequent use in a painting. It combines the sense of fun and entertainment for visitors to the race
day on Omey Strand against the background of the church on the hill and the gradual entry of visitors and the presence of
two other horses, one to the left and one further back on the right.”
Karen Reihill
Currently researching Gerard Dillon & Friends
€50,000 - 70,000
