Adam's HOMAN POTTERTON A LIFETIME OF COLLECTING 7th September 2021

5 HOMAN POTTERTON A Lifetime of Collecting We are delighted and honoured to have been chosen to handle the sale of the late Homan Potterton’s collection of old master paintings, Irish art, engravings, furniture and silver from his homes in Dublin and in the Gaillac region in France. Homan’s place in the modern history of Irish art and culture is very secure, having been appointed in 1980 the youngest ever director of the National Gallery of Ireland. Perhaps he was unfortunate that his tenure coincided with a period of austerity in Ireland’s economic fortunes which thwarted his plans for a comprehensive refurbish- ment. However, Homan is credited with the production of the ground-breaking concise catalogue of the collec- tion in 1981 and a definitive catalogue of the gallery’s Dutch paintings. Perhaps his lasting legacy at the Gallery was negotiating the gift of major paintings from the collection of Alfred and Clementine Beit, works which today are the cornerstone of the permanent collection. Homan was a regular attendee at Adam’s auctions over many years, and having come from a venerable auctioneer- ing family in Co Meath he was completely at home in the auction-rooms and quickly developed a friendship with many of the sale-room staff. His easy and affable style made him a popular ‘regular’ and regardless of the position of the staff member, whether a lowly junior sale-room assistant, a porter or a director he treated everyone with the same courtesy, respect and engaging demeanour. That innate generosity evident in all aspects of his life was well known and indeed it continues with his favourite charities benefiting from the proceeds of this sale. Homan’s expertise was primarily in Italian painting of the 17th and 18th centuries, but his encyclopaedic knowl- edge extended too to modern Irish painting, marble portrait busts and engravings, all of which are well represent- ed in the sale.This will be the last opportunity for his admirers to see his collection all in one place and perhaps to acquire a piece as a fitting reminder of the man many called their friend. James O’Halloran Summer 2021