Seán Keating's 'Study for an Allegory' for auction

Based on the famous 'An Allegory' at the National Gallery and unseen in public for many years, it has an estimate of €60,000-€80,000

Sat, 17 Aug, 2024 - 02:30

Des O’Sullivan

The pointlessness of civil war, specifically the Irish Civil War, is the inspiration for this watercolour and charcoal study by Seán Keating. Based on his famous An Allegory at the National Gallery and unseen in public for many years it comes up at Dolan's timed online auction which runs until August 26 with an estimate of €60,000-€80,000.

Central to the painting is a mother and her baby, wrapped in white for purity and innocence. The figure is Keating's wife May in the guise of Mother Ireland.

Keating portrays himself at her side, weary of the destruction of the Civil War which followed the War of Independence.

The catalogue for the sale, which features Irish art including a watercolour titled A Limerick Farm (1929) by Harry Kernoff and Salthill Diving Boards by Susan Cronin, rare Irish Midleton and Jameson whiskey along with wine, stamps, books and collectibles including a wooden rocking horse, is online.