Lot 76: Henry Allan (1865-1912) LAGAN BROOK, COUNTY LOUTH,

Henry Allan (1865-1912) LAGAN BROOK, COUNTY LOUTH, 1880 signed lower right; title and date inscribed on reverse oil on canvas 51 by 76cm., 20 by 30in. Henry Allan, a native of Dundalk, County Louth began his artistic training first in Belfast and Dublin before later following his contemporaries to Antwerp where he trained from 1884 to 1888. However, unlike many other artists of his day, Allan did not travel to France for further instruction, returning instead to begin his career in Ireland. Allan first exhibited in the RHA in 1889 and among the subjects he depicted were Irish landscapes as well as Dutch and Belgian interiors; testament to his previous expeditions abroad. Two years later Allan was to become a Royal Hibernian Academician and this position progressed to that of Academy Treasurer in 1909. Lagan Brook, County Louth is dated 1880 and is a rare example of the artist's early works prior to his exposure to artistic styles on the Continent. However, in its execution of the figures, certain similarities with his later work, such as Country Road Near Antwerp, catalogue no. 91 (£2-2-0), exhibited at the RHA in 1889, can be seen. Allan's work very rarely comes onto the market. The National Gallery of Ireland currently holds only one example of Henry Allan's work within its collection, Dutch Interior, which was exhibited at the RHA in 1889, catalogue no. 290 (£3-3-0).