Adam's IMPORTANT IRISH ART 30TH MARCH 2022

32 21 FREDERICK EDWARD MCWILLIAM HRUA RA (1909 - 1992) Study for ‘Princess Macha of the Golden Hair of the House of Ulster’ Resin, 19.5 x 29 x 49cm high (7¾ x 11½ x 19¼’’) Raised on black marble base, 23 x 17 x 4cm (9 x 6¾ x 1½’’) Provenance: With James Wray Gallery, Belfast, where purchased by the current owner. € 4,000 - 6,000 In 1957, F.E. McWilliam was commissioned to make a bronze sculpture of Princess Macha to stand outside the entrance to Britain’s first Na- tional Health Hospital, situated at Altnagelvin a few miles outside Derry, which was opened to the public in February 1960. The details of the subject, the Celtic goddess, Macha, were stipulated by the Northern Ireland Hospital’s Authority. Macha was reputed to have founded the first hospital in Ireland at Eamhain Mhacha in 300BC. A dove, a symbol of St Colm- cille who built Derry’s first infirmary at his monas- tery in the 6th century, sits on one of her hands and of course also symbolises Peace. At first the piece caused a public outcry but it later became a talisman for the hospital, greatly loved by pa- tients, visitors and staff alike. The hospital was de- signed by the architect Eugene Rosenberg who was later to become a close friend and patron of Mc William. McWilliam produced numerous studies and maquettes in preparation for the full size version and the present lot is one such resin maquette.