WHYTE'S THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR 15/16 MAY 2021

90 Michael Collins 198 Portraits of Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith by Sir John Lavery - signed lithographs Each work signed in lower margin by both artist and sitter - M O Coilean and Arthur Griffith; with publisher’s details and blindstamp also in lower margin; each also signed by the artist in the plate lower left and lower right respectively. Sheet size: 20 by 15in. (50.8 by 38.1cm) Condition: Excellent, no apparent faults, nicer than most we have seen. Attractively framed. Provenance: Whyte’s, 9 April 2006, lot 249; Private collection Lavery painted portraits of Griffith and Collins in 1921 whilst they were in London negotiating the terms of the Irish Treaty. Within months of their portraits being painted, both men were dead - Griffith of a heart attack, Collins assassinated only weeks later. The lithographs are based on the oil portraits: that of Griffith is in The Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane but the location of the Collins portrait is unknown. These signed lithographs were sold to raise funds for Sinn Féin. The edition is not known but less than 30 pairs are recorded at auction over the past 30 years. Estimate €8,000-€12,000 (approx £6,960-£10,430) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 198