DANIEL O’NEILL: ROMANTICISM & FRIENDSHIPS

 

Monograph by Karen Reihill

 

November 2020 sees the publication of the first monograph on the life of Irish artist Daniel O’Neill (1920-1974) and marks the Centenary year of his birth. Born during the War of Independence, the story begins with O’Neill’s first attempts to exhibit in his native city of Belfast during World War II with fellow artists and life-long friends, Gerard Dillon and George Campbell.  Considered a mysterious and enigmatic figure during his lifetime, new material shines light on O’Neill’s personal struggles and his complex relationship with his dealer, Victor Waddington. As well as his solo exhibitions, this publication explores O’Neill’s participation in mixed exhibitions of Irish art sponsored by Waddington and the new Irish Arts Council which took place in Ireland, UK, Europe, North America and Canada. In addition to Dillon and Campbell, other artists included in O’Neill’s story are Colin Middleton, Arthur Campbell, Markey Robinson, Nano Reid, Nevill Johnson, Arthur Armstrong and James MacIntyre. Paintings in Institutions at home and abroad are seen here for the first time and are complimented by archival photographs of O’Neill and his friends to help the reader understand how O’Neill adapted to the various political, social and economic changes in Ireland until his untimely death in 1974.

 

Karen Reihill has been examining the lives of Northern Irish painters, Gerard Dillon, George Campbell and Daniel O’Neill known as ‘The Belfast Boys’ for several years.  She is the author of Gerard Dillon, Art & Friendships (2013) and George Campbell & The Belfast Boys (2015).

 

Daniel O’Neill Romanticism & Friendships by Karen Reihill. Published November 2020 and contains 192 Pages with 370 images in colour and period black & white photographs.

 

ISBN 9781916357617

 

€25.00