Lot 127: Albert Power RHA (1881-1945) Mother and Child

Albert Power RHA (1881-1945) Mother and Child Bronze, 22.9cm (9'') high Signed and inscribed '' Albert Power to friend Francis O'Donohoe ARHA'' Exhibited: ''Collectors Eye'' Exhibition Cat. No. 38., The Model Arts and Niland Gallery, Sligo January - February 2004, The Hunt Museum, Limerick March - April 2004. Literature: ''Collector's Eye'' 2004 Exhibition Catalogue, illustrated p20 Once he had joined day classes at the Metropolitan School of Art, Albert Power came under the influence of John Hughes and Oliver Sheppard. He won a series of prizes for modeling, including three silver medals. Power first exhibited at the RHA in 1906, and from then until 1945 he showed seventy-six works, about one third portraits. Appointed a full member of the RHA in 1919, he executed the posthumous head of Thomas Kettle which was erected in St. Stephen's Green. In 1922 he was represented in the Irish exhibition at Galeries Barbazanges, Paris, with busts of Lord Dunsany, James Stephens and W.B.Yeats. The same year the new Free State Government commissioned him to execute posthumous busts in bronze of Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins. He was also responsible for the monument in Glasnevin Cemetery to Most Rev. Dr. Walsh, Archbishop of Dublin and the memorial to Countess Markievicz which is located in St. Stephen's Green. This work depicts Albert Power's wife and eldest daughter May. Francis O'Donohoe was regarded as an artist of some promise, but his life was cut short on Christmas Eve 1911 when the motorcar he was a passenger in was was involved in an accident.