Beschreibung:

Gerard Dillon (1916 - 1971) Francis Street, Portadown Oil on canvas, 39 x 52cm (15� x 20�) Signed Exhibited: Gerard Dillon Retrospective Exhibition The Ulster Museum Nov/Dec 1972, The Hugh Lane Gallery Jan/Feb 1973 Catalogue No. 6, where lent by Henry McKengue, Greenisland; Gerard Dillon Retrospective Exhibition Droichead Arts Centre Jan/Feb 2003, Linen Hall Library Feb/Mar 2003 Catalogue No.1 On the outbreak of war in 1939, Dillon had travelled from London to Ireland for a cycling trip in Connemara. He was obliged to stay due to travel restrictions and resided for a period at 54 Blessington Street, Dublin, where he became part of a thriving artistic community. In 1942, Mainie Jellett opened his first solo exhibition at the Country Shop, St Stephen�s Green. Travelling regularly to his home off the Falls Road, Belfast, Dillon formed strong friendships with a group of writers and artists. These included the pianist Tom Davidson, Daniel O�Neill and the Campbell brothers, George and Arthur. In 1943 he held a show with Daniel O�Neill at the Contemporary Galleries, Dublin and after becoming a member of the Dublin Painters Group he became involved in setting up the Irish Exhibition of Living Art (IELA) and exhibited for the first time at the Royal Hibernian Academy. In contrast to Dublin, which was neutral during the �Emergency,� Belfast was in ruins after the Blitz, and people were recovering from loss of life, which didn�t make it conducive for a painter. Added to this, restrictions hindered movement and Dillon�s Belfast images depict local scenes of French and American sailors, shawlies, bombed street scenes and crumbling buildings. Meeting George Campbell at an exhibition in 1943 caused Dillon to stay for longer periods as he mentored him in the subject of painting until the end of the War. In 1944, he formed the �Progressive Painters Group� with his friends, its aim to make the public aware of modern art by organizing exhibitions. The group comprised of Dillon, John Turner Daniel O�Neill and the Campbell brothers. They met regularly to share ideas and organize exhibitions. Dillon visited towns, Drogheda, Bangor and Portadown in preparation for his first joint show with George Campbell July, 1944 in the John Lamb Gallery, 25 Bridge Street, Portadown. In the artist�s biographical notes, circa 1950, he remarked, �� I was living in Belfast with only the occasional trip to Dublin. In the summer we�d spend our days in the woods, in the fields, in the quarries, on the beaches, or on the mountain side, sketching, looking, feeling, steeping ourselves in the landscape� after George Campbell and myself had a show in Portadown.� The exhibition was opened by the critic/writer, John Hewitt and this work �Francis Street, Portadown� is listed in Dillon�s thirty works with Campbell. With few outlets to exhibit modern art, they relied on their friendships with shop and bar owners to hang their work. The John Lamb Gallery was a room set aside by Arthur Lamb in his painting and decorating business for his brother, Charles while he was living in Carraroe. Another work in the exhibition �Marlay Street, Portadown� indicates Dillon spent time in the town in preparation for the exhibition. Figures are depicted in a quiet street scene untouched by the bombings that affected his native city. Although Dillon lived in London and Dublin for most of his life, he never broke the link with Belfast. This work was chosen for the artist�s retrospective, at the Ulster Museum in November 1972 and later at the Municipal Gallery of Modern Art Dublin, January 1973. Karen Reihill May 2015 Gerard Dillon (1916 - 1971) Francis Street, Portadown Oil on canvas, 39 x 52cm (15� x 20�) Signed Exhibited: Gerard Dillon Retrospective Exhibition The Ulster Museum Nov/Dec 1972, The Hugh Lane Gallery Jan/Feb 1973 Catalogue No. 6, where lent by Henry McKengue, Greenisland; Gerard Dillon Retrospective Exhibition Droichead Arts Centre Jan/Feb 2003, Linen Hall Library Feb/Mar 2003 C