23.50 by 29in. (59.7 by 73.7cm)

Title: SUNDAY LUNCH
Note: Throughout his career Fr. Jack Hanlon painted a wide variety of subjects. 'Sunday Lunch' falls into the category of genre scene, featuring a family group of four people, mother, father and two children, plus a mysterious female figure in the foreground, whose back is turned to the viewer. All are seated around a circular table about to partake in a special weekly meal. The painting is undated, but judging by the style of clothes and the furnishings of the dining room, it was possibly painted in the 1950s. The well-dressed figures look prosperous and middle-class and there is a bottle of wine on the polished table along with a bowl of yellow flowers.Fr. Hanlon's use of a circular table helps to establish a certain dynamic between the figures. The father appears to be toasting the figure in the foreground; the mother is looking at the two children on her right; they are both looking towards the viewer. There is, however, one figure isolated from the family group. This is the apron-clad female at the back of the room on the left, bending over a table, with back turned to the family group - the maid or cook. As there is yet no food on the table, the diners are clearly waiting to be served. Perhaps the artist is making a social statement here.Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the slightly non-naturalistic scene is depicted in glowing colours, as was Fr. Hanlon's custom. In a 1964 interview, given to the Irish Independent, he stated "I like anything that will give colour". His use of red, yellow, blue, green and brown, combined with various shapes and forms - squares, rectangles, circles and striped patterns - lends an added interest to the work. It draws the spectator's eye deeper into the painting and uncovers something new at each viewing.Mary Reilly,August 2019

oil on canvas

signed lower right; with Pyms Gallery label on reverse