Beatrice Salkeld Sold at Auction Prices

Beatrice Salkeld (1925-1993) Boy with Dog Oil on canvas, 42 x 32 (16½ x 12½

Beatrice Salkeld (1925-1993) Boy with Dog Oil on canvas, 42 x 32 (16½ x 12½'') Signed 'I soon realised I was to play a minor role in this American carnival; it was a role I was accustomed to in other countries, so I did not complain. No one could accuse me of trying to compete with my husband, he alone was news whether drunk or sober.' Beatrice Salkeld was first introduced to her future husband Brendan Behan (1923-1964) by her artist father, Cecil fFrench Salkeld ARHA (1904-1969), while she was still a school girl. Educated at the Loreto Convent on St. Stephen's Green in Dublin, she trained at the National College of Art and later in Florence, Sienna, and Milan. From 1949 to 1955, she worked as a botanical assistant in the National Museum of Ireland. At this time, she exhibited at the RHA (1948-1950); had her work shown at the Oireachtas Exhibition (1957, 1958), at the Irish Living Art Exhibition (1959), in New York (1969, 1970) and at the Irish Pavilion at the World Fair (1972). She also assisted her father with painting his murals in Davy Byrne's public house in Dublin, and subsequently maintained them. After marrying Behan in February 1955, Salkeld remained to a great extent, in her husband's shadow. She helped to support him and their only daughter by working as a horticultural illustrator for the Irish Times. Regarding him as 'a great, loveable genius', she also travelled frequently with Behan, accompanying him to London, Paris, and New York, and was very tolerant of her husband's drinking and unruly behaviour. She illustrated Behan's Hold your hour and have another (1963), and worked with Alan Simpson on the revision of his unfinished play 'Richard's cork leg'. Upon his death, she settled his many debts and in 1973, published her memoirs, My Life with Brendan.