Lot 84 Roisin Murray

Roisin Murray (1894-1980) FEMALE PORTRAIT Oil on canvas, 23 1/4'' x 19 1/4'' (59cm x 49cm), signed. Róisin Murray was a qualified teacher, an active member of Cumann na mBan from its foundation and an artist. Murray studied at the National College of Art where Sean Keating was her mentor. She exhibited on several occasions at the RHA as Róisin O'Doherty which was extremely rare for a non-member coming through a competitive process. Further exhibitions included Living Art and on two occasions the Arts Council exhibitions of Contemporary Irish Art that went to USA and Great Britain. Murray had two paintings in the US event, Sean Keating being the only other Irish artist with two on that occasion. Leo Smith of the Dawson Gallery constantly urged Murray to mount a one-man-show and equally constantly she refused. Murray had a studio in Dawson Street and later in Wicklow Street from the early 50's to the mid 70's and undertook private commissions and there are several of her paintings around in various private collections and institutions including one in the National Gallery collection.