Gerard Dillon (Irish 1916-1971)

Gerard Dillon, who became better known as Gerry, was born in Belfast in 1916. Dillon left school at the age of 14 and started his career as an apprentice decorator with Maurice Sullivan and Sons. His interest in the arts, cinema and theatre shaped his social communities and ultimately led him to begin his career as an artist in the 1930s. At the age of 18, Dillon left Belfast to join his brother, Joe and sister, Madge who were living in London.

At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Dillon was on a cycling trip in Ireland. Due to travel restrictions he was left with no choice but to stay in Ireland. He decided to venture to Dublin and became part of an exciting artistic community which included iconic artists Louis le Brocquy and Patrick Hennessy. He also formed companionships with artists from the White Stag Group including Basil Rakoczi and Kenneth Hall.

In 1942, Mainie Jellett who championed Dillon, opened his first solo show at The Country Shop which had been founded in Dublin in 1930. Mainie Jellett went on to set up the Irish Exhibition of Living Art (IELA) a year later which showcased abstract expressionism and avant-garde Irish art. The IELA became a major platform for contemporary Irish artists and Dillon exhibited annually alongside other Ulster boys such as Daniel O’Neill and George Campbell. By the end of the 1940s the Ulster group dominated the IELA and Dillon was to serve as committee member for 20 years.

"Gerard was dedicated to art above all else and his energy and drive was infectious" – Noreen Rice 2011

Dillon’s three brothers tragically passed away within quick succession of one another between 1962-1966. This traumatic period of loss gravely affected his state of mind. His works turned into a form of escapist art as Dillon tried to cope with the loss of his brothers. Throughout this period he returned continuously to the motif of the clown and the figure of Pierrot. This was a theme that was explored by other artists in the Ulster group in the 1960s. They were interested in the subject of the relationship between comedy and tragedy and this would come to be a prominent feature in the work of the group. The present lot shows Pierrot lying peacefully on his side sleeping in the upper half of the picture. The viewer is struck by the colour contrast of the bright white against the rich red which leads to the lower half of the picture which is much darker. A nervous looking black cat is depicted right in the centre with two indistinct faces towards the upper right. It is possibly that the Pierrot and the two faces represent each of Dillon’s three brothers.

AUCTION DETAILS
Thursday 18 March | 10.30am
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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