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Mainie Jellett (1897-1944)
BETTY ON THE ROCKS, 1919
oil on canvas
signed [Miss M. Jellett] and with artist’s address [36 Fitzwilliam Sq., Dublin] written twice on reverse; also with IMMA
exhibition label on reverse
20 x 16in. (50.80 x 40.64cm)
Provenance: Family of the artist;Thence by descent
Exhibited: ‘Mainie Jellett’, Irish Museum of Modern Art, December 1991 to March 1992, catalogue no. 31 (loaned by
present owner)
In 1920 Mainie Jellett secured the coveted Taylor Prize with a magnificent oil on canvas entitled, Peace (also known as
The Beach Pool). It was begun in Fintragh House, Donegal in the summer of 1919 and finished that autumn or winter.
The present painting depicts a portion of the same scene. It focuses on the artist’s sister Betty perched on lichen covered
rocks, donning a hat, her legs stretched out over what would appear to be her sisters’ jackets. An Orpen-esque expanse
of blue sky and patchy clouds dominates the composition while Betty’s gaze draws the viewer towards the foreground
and a scene beyond the realm of the canvas. The Jellett family holidays in Donegal lasted many weeks and the sisters
passed their days on the beach swimming, fishing and picnicking. Mainie spent her time sketching and in August of
1919 conceived the idea for a major painting. Bruce Arnold notes, …the studies for it [Peace] occupied most of her
holiday. Among them was a sketch of Babbin [Rosamund] in a yellow dress which she gave to her mother as a birthday
present. On another occasion, while Bay read to them, Mainie did a superb small sketch of Betty in a wide-brimmed hat,
which became an oil [the present work], and subsequently featured as the central focus in the final canvas.”For further
reading see: Arnold, Bruce, Mainie Jellett and the Modern Movement in Ireland.”
€5,000-€7,000 (£3680-£5150 approx. approx.)
Large Image & Place Bid Lot 37IRISH & INTERNATIONAL ART · 28 SEPTEMBER 2015