IMPORTANT IRISH ART · 27 MAY 2024 AT 6PM

60 35 William Conor OBE RHA RUA ROI (1881-1968) BEFORE THE CURTAIN RAISES, c. 1942 oil on canvas signed lower right; titled on label on reverse 24 by 20in. (61 by 50.8cm) Frame Size: 32 by 28in. (81.3 by 71.1cm) Provenance: Collection of Joe Loss OBE; Thence by descent Exhibited: RHA, Dublin, 1942, catalogue no. 36 The artist has assembled the audience in the Grand Circle at the Belfast Opera House during a Wartime Concert. Here, there is no sign of anything other than a happy expectation of musical entertainment and joy: aesthetically the artist has risked the numbers involved contained in the Circle whilst allowing the foreground figures to be anchored by scarves and bits and pieces thus preventing the eye from sliding out of the composition. His early poster training taught him how to ‘off centre’ the principal or rely on dynamic asymmetry so that he (the artist) keeps control of the entire composition. Risky, but he made it work as well as stopping the eye from sliding ‘off centre’ by the device of the standing figures mid image. And he created that sense of anticipation with which all theatrical occasions are imbued. The details which are ‘foregrounded’ by the artist introduce us (the viewer) to our sense of impending enjoyment. War (for now) forgotten and the anticipated fun about to commence. And, like those 17th Century artists, audiences are being noted by a painter in the same way. Somewhere in his mind’s eye, the artist also, I think, remembered Valasquez’s nearly chiaroscuro compositions of ‘light into dark’ for some of his effects. ’AWar’ picture if you like but not that either, just people carrying on their daily doings postponing War thoughts for the Musical Arts. A testament of Life to be enjoyed and passed down to us likewise. Note: Joe Loss acquired this work on one of his many Ulster trips, possibly reminding himself of many a similar occasion in Belfast. Joshua Alexander “Joe” Loss LVO OBE (1909 - 1990) was an extremely popular British dance band leader and musician who founded his own eponymous orchestra. He was made an OBE for musical services but the late Queen also made him a Member of Her Royal Order, which was her own decision being her reserved function and not a Civil Service or Government response. Ciarán MacGonigal May 2024 €25,000-€35,000 (£21,370-£29,910 approx.) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot35