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108 GEORGE CAMPBELL RHA (1917-1979)Memories of Virginia II
Oil on board, 61 x 101cm (24 x 39¾’’)
Signed
Provenance: From the collection of the late Paddy and Maureen Walsh, friends of the artist.
Exhibited: ‘George Campbell and the Belfast Boys’, Adam’s summer loan show 2015, Catalogue No.112.
During the 1960’s George Campbell was engaged in a number of State and Church commissions as well as exhibiting at the
Richie Hendriks Gallery in Dublin. From the mid 1960’s, a chalet type house in Virginia became a weekend retreat for the artist
and his wife Madge until they purchased a house in Ranelagh. Friends from Dublin often joined musicians from the surrounding
area for evenings of entertainment. The Park Hotel was a regular venue for late night music sessions and the hotel owners, Helen
and Barry MacDonnell’s close association with Campbell led to other commissions for the hotel.
Memories of Virginia II
is similar in style and subject matter to another work
Virginia in Retrospect
, which featured as a postcard
to promote The Park Hotel in the late 1960’s. Both paintings depict the woods and land of The Park Hotel by the shores of Lough
Ramor. The looser brushwork however, in
Memories of Virginia II
suggest this work may have been executed slightly later. Built
in 1610, as a hunting lodge for the Marquis of Headfort, the hotel was famed in the 1960’s for its homely and welcoming atmo-
sphere. Through Campbell, Helen and Barry McDonnell met and supported Arthur Armstrong, Gerard Dillon and Noreen Rice.
Memories of Virginia II
was acquired by Paddy and Maureen Walsh who had met Campbell in the 1940’s through the artist’s
brother Arthur Campbell through their mutual interest in photography. In 1946, following George Campbell’s first successful solo
exhibition at the Victor Waddington Galleries in Dublin, Campbell began making regular trips to Dublin staying with Nano Reid in
Fitzwilliam Square and with Paddy Walsh in Marino, North Dublin. The Walsh’s soon became part of Campbell’s inner circle visiting
the couple in Spain, Roundstone, Virginia and Dublin. Known for his generosity, Campbell may have presented this painting to
his friend for his help and support in the late 1960’s. In 1966 a booklet,
‘George Campbell RHA’
was published by Three Candle
Press, where Paddy Walsh was employed and one year later Walsh Studios collaborated with Campbell in publishing a folio of
eight prints by George Campbell and Arthur Armstrong, from his home in North Dublin.
The Park Hotel which is now called The Virginia Park Lodge was recently acquired by well known Chef Richard Corrigan who uses
it as a venue for weddings.
Karen Reihill August 2016
€ 7,000 - 10,000
THE ESTATE OF PADDY AND MAUREEN WALSH