It was the first show of the year at Antoinette Murphy's Jorgensen Gallery on Monday night so all the regulars and more arrived to check out the work. As well as the usual old masters there was a number of works by young artists causing considerable interest.
Conor Walton, of the music family, was particularly happy as his work had been sold before the weekend. However, anybody who had set their heart on a Walton painting could rest happy in the knowledge that he has his own show coming up in the gallery shortly.
Ian McAllister and Harry Bilson are two other young artists being promoted by Antoinette. Ian, who is from Belfast, is both musician and artist and has a show lined up at the RHA Gallagher gallery, while Harry is from Iceland. Brendan O'Reilly, formerly of RTE, introduced him to the gallery.
Onlookers included Monika and Cyril Murray; Ulli de Breffni; Patrick Guinness, Christina Ryall, of Phillips auctioneers; Himself publisher Ann Reihill with her husband John Reihill; young artist Marie Louise Martin; psychiatrist Paul McQuaid; horse breeder Sonya Jorgensen; and Michelina and George Stacpoole, who travelled from Adare to attend the celebration of Irish fashion luncheon in the National Museum earlier in the day.