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I

rish

& I

nternational

A

rt

A

uction

M

onday

5

th

D

ecember

2016

at

6.00

pm

49

47 Mary Swanzy HRHA (1882-1978) Fantastical Figures

Mary Swanzy Studio Sale Stamp on reverse

oil on board

21 x 31cm (8 x 12in)

Provenance:

The Mary Swanzy Studio Sale, Christies, London, 10th May 2007 Lot 319;

Private Collection

€1,000-1,500 (£869-1,304)

Mary Swanzy was born in Dublin in 1882. Swanzy attended Alexandra College, Earlsfort Terrace, and finishing

school at the Lycée in Versailles, France, and a day school in Freiburg, Germany. This education meant that Swanzy

was fluent in French and German. She went on to take art classes at May Mannings’ studio, under the direction of

John Butler Yeats. Manning encouraged Swanzy to study modelling with John Hughes at the Dublin Metropolitan

School of Art. Swanzy’s first exhibition was with the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) in 1905 and she continued

to exhibit portraits every year until 1910. In 1905 she went to Paris, and worked at the Delacluse studio. She went

on to attend the studio of Antonio de La Gándara in 1906, and took classes at Académie de la Grande Chaumière

and Académie Colarossi. Whilst in Paris Swanzy was exposed to the works of Gauguin, Matisse, and Picasso, which

made a lasting impression on her. Unlike fellow Irish cubists Evie Hone and Mainie Jellett, she was not concerned

with traditional Irish art or themes, opting to foster her own distinctive style.