WHYTE'S AUTUMN ONLINE ART SALE TIMED AUCTION - ENDS MONDAY 21 OCTOBER 2024 FROM 6PM

138 135 Gerard Dillon (1916-1971) CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE ARTIST AND PATRICK KELLY, c.1969 correspondence letters; (35) Frame Size: Provenance: Whyte’s, 29 November 2010, lot 70; Private collection With a fluid artist’s tongue, Dillon eloquently shares his ideas and attitudes on a variety of topics including his exhibitions, Northern politics, his then housemate at 28 Chelmsford Avenue, Arthur Armstrong (“A”) in this collection of rare correspondence. Patrick or Paddy Kelly, a friend of the artist from his time in London, is referred to in James White’s Gerard Dillon, An Illustrated Biography, p.50 and 63 as a “Northern chap…a talker, articulate and a strong personality whom Gerard liked greatly.”White also references Aidan Higgins’ novel The Balcony of Europe where there is a chapter entitledWho’s Paddy Kelly. His contemporaries in the art world are regularly mentioned, some of whom are treated to Dillon’s sharp tongue making for a delightfully humorous and eyeopening read. For example, “A” is described as, “so quiet - so easygoing, so slithery and dithery - a slow mover to do anything, to think of anything.” Some letters refer to their domestic differences. Dillon bickers to Kelly on Armstrong’s (perceived) shortcomings and on their house cleaning tasks going into amusing detail regarding scraping plates, washing windows and hair trimming, among other neglected duties. In a separate letter Dillon recalls a visit to Drogheda to see Nano Reid where he notes, “…the Reids have become more and more eccentric and if you didn’t know them you’d run a mile.”Notable exhibition openings and Dillon’s controversial attitude within the art scene is recorded in his reference to Pat Scott’s exhibition 1969 where he was given the, “…cold shoulder from most of the “set” over the Living Art Protest I was involved in. Norah McGuinness said to me as she was going to talk to someone else, “only I like you so much I could easily kill you” And I think she meant it - for I’ve hit hard at their unionist hearts I expect.”Other artists mentioned include his neighbour George Campbell, Louis le Brocquy, Maurice MacGonigal, Dan O’Neill and Noreen Rice among others. Historic events such as the Dublin bombings are noted, “Did I tell you the explosion at O’Connell’s monument woke me up - and that’s about 2 ½-3 miles away. So it was loud but did little damage, but to plenty of windows all around. The U.V.F. threaten more - to date - attempt at R.T.E. studios, W. Tone’s Grave, the attempt at power station in Donegal & now Dan O’C!”Dillon also includes an unsent letter to the Editor of The IrishTimes which references the RHA, Maurice MacGonigal and Charlie Haughey’s “tax release for artists.” He signs off this unsent letter, “Hurrah for Charlie, may he become the next LEADER, or KING of Ireland or SOMETHING, Yours faithfully, Gerard Dillon.” A rare and absorbing insight into the artist’s private thoughts, anxieties and observations during his final years. Critical archival material for art historians. €1,000-€1,500 (£830-£1,250 approx.) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot135