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John Day (Irish, 19th century)

Currency:EUR Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 EUR
John Day (Irish, 19th century)
John Day (Irish, 19th century) A VIEW OF THE CARRIGALINE RIVER signed and dated [1856] lower centre left oil on canvas 36 by 51cm., 14 by 20in. Provenance: Commissioned by Major Henry Butler Stoney (1816-1894); thence by descent to Mrs Karen Butler Stoney A similar work to the present one, titled 'Carragaline River' (catalogue no. 1495) was loaned by Alderman William Hegarty to the 'Irish Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures' in Cork, 18821. Hegarty was a regular patron of Day's work; a record appears in the Cork Examiner of 14 June 1862 of him purchasing a large scene of Irish tinkers in a glade on Lord Shannon's demesne at Castlemartyre2. Day received regular notices in the local newspaper. For instance, in April 1857 (the year in which 'A View of the Carrigaline River' was painted), students of the Crawford School of Art were enjoined to visit the studio of John Day where "many clever landscapes" including one destined for the Glasgow Art Union, were on display3. Henry Butler Stoney was born in Co. Mayo and studied at TCD. His army career began in 1837 when he was appointed ensign in the 19th Regiment, and in 1840 he went to Malta where, for some time, he acted as Resident for the island of Cirago. In 1845 he was appointed Port Adjutant and Superintendent of Roads and Bridges for Tobago in the West Indies, where he received special thanks for his exertions in saving life during the hurricane of 1847. He also served in Montreal, Canada where, in 1848, he distinguished himself by holding an outpost against an overwhelming rebel force. He returned to England to a staff appointment and later became paymaster to the British Army 99th Regiment of Foot. In 1853, when the 99th Regiment was stationed in Hobart, Tasmania, Butler Stoney went with them. The Regiment was recalled to England in 1855, at which point the Major took leave to return to Ireland. It was during this time in Ireland that he commissioned a Cork artist, John Day, to paint the Carrigaline River as a reminder of his homeland. Butler Stoney returned to Australia in 1856, where he was stationed in Ballarat, Victoria, with the 40th Regiment. In 1860 he moved with the Regiment to a new posting in Taranaki, New Zealand, and six years later, when the Regiment was ordered home, Butler Stoney sold out of the army and took up land at Wade. In his final years he achieved prominence in Auckland in local council affairs. He died on 4 July 1894. 1 With thanks to Jim Callaghan of the NGI for this information. 2 Peter Murray, Illustrated Summary Catalogue of the Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork, 1992, p.237. 3 Ibid., pp.233, 235.€3000-€4000 (IR £2300-£3100 approx.)
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