Cork’s Crawford Art Gallery has acquired two more paintings by one of Ireland’s best-known painters, Seán Keating.
The Keating paintings are amongst four artworks recently acquired at auction by Crawford Art Gallery for the National Collection.
Sean Keating’s Elijah with the Ravens, Version II (1930) and his self-portrait, c.1961, along with Winter Evening, Calary (1964) by abstract and landscape artist Camille Souter and Attic Bedroom (date unknown) by Grace Henry were all purchased with the financial support of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
The acquisitions bring to 15 the number of Keating works in Crawford Art Gallery’s collection. Keating, born in 1889 in Limerick, is considered one of Ireland’s leading painters of the first half of the twentieth century.
One of Keating’s best-loved paintings, Men of the South, depicting men of the 2nd North Cork Brigade of the IRA awaiting an ambush, is in Crawford Art Gallery’s collection. In November 2023 Crawford purchased The Window, a tender depiction of Keating’s wife, May, which has attracted significant attention since its arrival to Cork.
Crawford Art Gallery is currently closed to the public for Transforming Crawford Art Gallery, an extensive restoration and redevelopment that is currently expected to be complete in 2027 but while the doors may be closed, staff continue to work on care of the collection of over 3,500 artworks. The collection is being decanted into secure storage throughout the winter of 2024, for the duration of the building’s renovations.
The newly acquired Keatings, Souter and Henry will go on public display after the gallery reopens.
“This is a fantastic coup for Crawford Art Gallery, for the National Collection, and for Cork,” Crawford Art Gallery director Mary McCarthy said of the acquisitions.
“The acquisition of Elijah and the Ravens and Keating’s self-portrait are a thrilling moment for Crawford Art Gallery, making Crawford Art Gallery an even more significant custodian of public works by this much-loved and historically important Irish painter.”
“The Camile Souter and Grace Henry acquisitions further expand our collection of two very fine artists’ works.”
“Crawford Art Gallery’s doors might be closed to the public at present for redevelopment, but as these important acquisitions show, we are continuing to work behind the scenes to enhance the National Collection and we are grateful to our funders and in particular Minister Catherine Martin, our supporters and donors who enable us to continue this important work.” Ms McCarthy said.
“The public will have an even more exciting and enriching visitor experience awaiting them when we re-open our doors following Transforming Crawford Art Gallery.”
Image:
Mary McCarthy, Director of the Crawford Art Gallery, was photographed at the unveiling of four new artworks acquired by the gallery for the National Collection in October 2024. She is pictured alongside Sean Keating’s Elijah with the Ravens, Version II (1930), his self-portrait (c. 1961), and Men of the South, acquired by Crawford Art Gallery 100 years ago in April 1924. Photo: Joleen Cronin