Country House Collections at Slane Castle 13
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&14
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October 2013
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172
AFTER JOSEPH HAVERTY RHA (1794 - 1864)
The Triumphant Entry of George IV into Dublin. His Majesty’s Arrival, His Majesty’s Embarkation A pair of coloured aquatints by Robert Havell,
each 45 x 64cms
Together with the framed keys
These prints record the visit of George IV to Ireland in 1821, when official business was overshadowed by the Kings’ wish to visit Slane Castle.
These are rare first state prints before the flags were re-engraved to fly at half mast for the death of Queen Caroline. This pair of aquatint prints
by Robert Havell, are based on paintings by Joseph Haverty, a close friend of ‘The Liberator’, Daniel O’Connell. Haverty based his depictions on
sketches made by John Lushington Reilly, whom Haverty has thoughtfully included in the embarkation scene. The figure of Reilly can be found in
the central foreground sketching on horseback. The 18 day visit by George IV began on August 12th 1820, the Kings 59th birthday, and a mere three
weeks after his coronation. The visit was arguably the first time a British monarch had visited the country without an accompanying army, in the
traditional sense at least. George IV’s visit was universally greeted with rejoicing from the populace. One of the first to extend his warmest welcome
was Daniel O’Connell, who saw the visit as welcome support in his endeavours to achieve Catholic Emancipation, although George only signed the
bill reluctantly some eight years later. The King, whilst scheduled to arrive at Kingstown, instead arrived at Howth harbour in a mood befitting his
birthday celebrations. The first print shows the King leading a procession of some two hundred carriages at the head of Sackville Street amidst a
spectacular flurry of flags and pageantry. The Lord Mayor’s Guard, who resembled ‘Beefeaters’, can be seen close to the carriage. The King spent the
majority of his stay at the Vice Regal Lodge in the Phoenix Park, with the exception of a four day visit to his mistress, Elizabeth Lady Conyngham
at Slane Castle. The visit was a resounding success - Daniel O’Connell even suggesting that a collection be taken up from every peasant in Ireland,
to facilitate the building of a palace for the new King. The collection did not afford the building of a palace but it did facilitate the building of a new
bridge crossing the Liffey at the present location of Heuston Station. i.e. King’s Bridge
€600 - 1000
