10 December 2009 Edition

Resize: A A A Print

A Christmas gift to cherish

Collectors' prints

The 1916 Signatories Series

by Robert Ballagh
PRICE €395
www.sinnfeinbookshop.com


BY ELLA O’DWYER

IN the run-up to the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, Sinn Féin has commissioned world-famous artist Robert Ballagh to create a series of prints representing each of the seven signatories to The Proclamation of the Republic.
The series is limited to 350 copies and as such will make important collectors’ items for their historic significance. What better time to launch someone’s collection than at Christmas?
These prints will appeal not just for their historical focus but for their importance as original works of art from a renowned artist of our time.
A member of Aosdána, Robert Ballagh is an important figure in the art world, both at home and abroad.
Robert is also respected in republican circles, not just for the quality of his work but also because he was ready to represent republicanism through his work in times when it was unpopular to do so. He has produced the bronze and marble cast pieces representing the Easter Lily presented to the families of deceased IRA Volunteers at the Tír Grá event in 2002 and his bronze and marble cast torches were presented to various Le Chéile honourees down through the years. So it is no surprise that he would be the artist Sinn Féin would turn to to carry out the series on ‘The Signatories’.
The series representing the Proclamation signatories will be framed, numbered, dated and signed by the artist and will incorporate both a hand-etched, glass portrait of a 1916 signatory and special printed museum-quality print of the Proclamation.
The concept of the series is to celebrate the ideal of a 32-county republic as envisaged by the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation and each year, at Easter, between now and 2016, a new print will be issued.
The series will commenced Easter 2009 with a portrait of Pádraig Pearse. This, the first in the series, is a striking piece set against a green background. While you might want to opt for one out of the series, the ideal would be to collect the complete set. At €395 each, these pieces are a good buy given the series is limited to a small number of productions.  You could really make someone’s Christmas.


An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland