ADAM'S IMPORTANT IRISH ART 27 MAY 2026

38 15 WILLIAM CONOR RHA RUA ROI (1881 - 1968) The Darlins (1923) Oil on canvas, 45 x 36cm (17¾ x 14”) Signed; also signed and inscribed with title and date verso Provenance: With William Rodman & Co, Belfast, label verso; Collection of Reeta and Frank Hughes, Warrenpoint, thence by descent. € 8,000 - 12,000 A tender and intimate depiction of maternal affection, The Darlins (1923) exemplifies Conor’s celebrated ability to ele- vate everyday life into scenes of quiet dignity and warmth. Set against a simplified urban backdrop, a mother gathers her children close, their forms arranged in a gentle, almost sculptural grouping. Conor’s restrained palette, punctuat- ed by the rich ochre of a child’s garment, draws the eye into the composition, while his confident, economical brush- work lends immediacy and vitality to the scene. The figures are arranged in a compact, almost sculptural grouping, while the simplified architectural backdrop, rows of ter- raced houses, anchors the scene firmly in a working-class environment familiar from Conor’s Belfast. Conor was deeply attuned to the lives of working-class communities in Belfast. His work often reflects a com- passionate realism, informed by both observation and empathy. Conor trained at the Belfast School of Art and later in Paris, where he absorbed influences from contem- porary French painting. However, unlike many of his peers, he remained committed to portraying local life, becoming closely associated with the cultural revival in Northern Ireland. His work was widely exhibited, including at the Royal Hibernian Academy, and he was later elected a full member, cementing his status within the Irish artistic estab- lishment. In The Darlins, the artist balances structure and spontaneity, capturing not only likeness but the fleeting warmth of familial connection. Painted in 1923, during a mature and highly productive phase of his career, this work demonstrates Conor’s assured handling of composition and tone. The Darlins exemplifies the qualities that have made Conor’s work enduringly popular with collectors, it’s accessible subject matter, emotional immediacy, and strong sense of place. The painting resonates not only as a document of social his- tory but also as a universal depiction of familial affection. Emmalie Conroy, April 2026