The Court of Criminal Appeal. London. 1916. (Roger Casement)
Artist
Sir John Lavery
(1856 - 1941)
Date1916
MediumOil on panel
Dimensions63.5 × 80 cm
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineCollection & image © Hugh Lane Gallery.
Lady Lavery Memorial Bequest through Sir John Lavery, 1935.
Object number753
DescriptionIn 1916 Roger Casement was convicted of treason for smuggling arms into Ireland on 'The Aud', a German U-Boat. Lavery accepted a commission from Mr Justice Darling, on behalf of the Inner Temple, to document the passing of the death sentence. Being the trial of Roger Casement and because of the scandal of the so-called Black Diaries which told of Casement's homosexuality, it was a risky commission for Lavery to accept as it might have jeopardized his society patronage. The commission was also instrumental in drawing the Laverys into Irish politics and John Lavery subsequently arranged sittings with the key figures, notably George Gavan Duffy, his wife and Sir F. E. Smith (later Lord Birkenhead). In this painting Hazel who is wearing a hat can be seen in the corner of the balcony.(Catalogue Entry [10]: Hazel, Lady Lavery Society and Politics, Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, 18 September - 3 November 1996, pp. 218-219)
On View
Not on view
