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Sean Keating PRHA HRA HRSA (1889-1977) Eamon de Valera charcoal drawing heightened signed 'KEATING' lower right h:44  w:36 cm. Provenance: These Rooms, 21st January 2019 lot 7; Private Collection Full of character and vigour, this portrait of Eamon de Valera is more than a sketch: Sean Keating has used charcoal and white conte crayon expertly, bringing life and animation to might otherwise be a dull monochrome image. The portrait depicts President de Valera when the veteran politician was probably in his late 'seventies, and therefore can be dated to circa 1960, not long after de Valera had won the presidential election. He had problems with his eyesight and had had several operations during the 1950's; Keating captures the thinning hair, hooded eyes and round spectacles worn by de Valera, as he advanced into old age. Keating also did a portrait of de Valera in 1972, to celebrate the President's 90th birthday. Peter Murray, March 2023