Painter and Joyce enthusiast is buried

Painter, gallery owner and Joyce enthusiast Gerald Davis was buried yesterday at the Jewish cemetery in Dolphin's Barn, Dublin.

Mr Davis (66), who died on Saturday, was a prominent member of the Jewish community and had been suffering from cancer for some time.

As a painter he had more than 150 solo exhibitions to his credit. He was awarded a gold medal by the Arts Council in 1977 and represented Ireland abroad on several occasions.

In 1970 he opened his own gallery on Capel Street in Dublin where he pioneered the work of young Irish artists and craft-workers.

He was also a strong supporter of young musicians and produced albums by many of Ireland's most distinguished jazz musicians.

Born in Dublin in 1938, he was the only child of Sydney Davis and his wife, Doris. His father, the son of a Lithuanian Jew who came to Ireland in the 1880s, set up a shop on Capel Street in 1950.

Gerald joined the family business at 16. By the 1960s he was in charge of what was Davis Stationery but his interest in painting was growing.

His first solo exhibition was held at the Molesworth Gallery, Dublin, in 1962 and over the following 40 years he sold at least 3,000 paintings.

He founded Livia Records in the late 1970s as an outlet for his love of jazz. He produced Louis Stewart's debut album, Louis the First, as well as others highlighting the spoken arts with Brendan Kennelly, John Molloy and Niall Tóibín.

In Bloomsday celebrations at home and abroad, he played a prominent role as the embodiment of Leopold Bloom. He is survived by his daughters, Debbie and Judie; son, Leslie; former wife, Joan; and partner, Barbara.