File 27 - Jack B. Yeats National Loan Exhibition Volume

60 pp; 38 cm x 28 cm; Bound volume, photographic print, manuscript and newspaper clipping

A bound volume with a manuscript annotation on the spine which reads ‘Jack B. Yeats / National Loan Exhibition / 1945’. The volume contains photographic prints showing some of the 179 Yeats’s paintings on display at the exhibition. The exhibition was held at the National College of Art in Dublin in June and July 1945. It appears that Fr. Senan played a significant role in organising the exhibition. Printed extracts from a catalogue are extant in the volume which include information on painting titles, dimensions, and provenance. The volume also includes some related clippings re Yeats’s artistic output, a Christmas card from the Cuala Press, letters from Yeats to Fr. Senan Moynihan OFM Cap., and a ink-sketch signed by the artist. The letters date from 1941 to 1946. Several of Yeats’s paintings displayed in the exhibition including ‘The Funeral of Harry Boland’ (1922) and ‘Communicating with Prisoners’ (1924) were in the possession of Fr. Senan at the time of the National Loan Exhibition.

Many of the photographic prints have suffered significant damage due to prior poor storage. There is considerable loss to many of the images as some of the prints appear to have adhered together causing tearing. Some prior mould and insect boring damage is also evident. Very careful handling of the volume is required.

'Jack B. Yeats / national loan exhibition / June-July 1945' (Dublin, 1945) https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000046481

For biographical information on Jack B. Yeats (1871-1957) see https://www.dib.ie/biography/yeats-jack-butler-a9157