Morgan O'Driscoll Irish & International Art Auction 30th April 2018 at 6pm

38 Paul Henry RHA RUA ( - ) CoTTAges (1930-1935) signed ‘PAUL HENRY’ lower right oil on board 25.5 x 30cm (10.04 x 12in) Provenance: Collection of Hugh Francis Carey; By Descent; Christie’s London, The Irish Art Sale, 12th May 2006 Lot 81; Private Collection Literature: S.B. Kennedy: Paul Henry Paintings, Drawings Illustrations, published by Yale, University press; Catalogue No. 762, page 252 illustrated. €50,000-70,000 (£43,478-60,869 This composition remarkable for the handling of the water in the foreground, with its dabs of light colour and the few reeds which brings the foreground to life (see for example Henry’s treatment of ‘Kinsale’, 1939, with its dabs of a lighter colour on the water which enlivens the foreground view of the Scilly area.) Similar treatment is applied to the sky, although the clouds are less distinct. The mountains in the background are similarly lacking the direction of light so that the ‘Cottages’ themselves and the foreground are left to provide the interest in the scene. This is one of the first times that Henry made use of this device. ‘Cottages’ is numbered 762 in S. B. Kennedy’s on-going catalogue of Paul Henry’s oeuvre. Dr S.B. Kennedy, March 2018