Title - An Invitation to Go Haymaking

Artist - Richard Thomas Moynan

Moynan was born in Dublin and first studied medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons, before attending the Metropolitan School of Art with Roderic O'Conor. He trained at the Antwerp Academy between 1883 and 1885 where he won first prize in painting from life, and shared lodgings with fellow Irish artist Henry Allan. He returned to Dublin in 1888 and was employed for a time by local newspaper The Union as a political cartoonist under the pseudonym 'Lex', but hoped to become renowned for large scale genre paintings such as this. He exhibited regularly at the RHA between 1880 and 1905. He was the principal recorder of Dublin city and county in the late Victorian era, and was influenced by Osborne in his portrayal of naturalistic scenes of village life. Moynan painted several pictures of children such as this, which were popular amongst late nineteenth century artists. Moynan brings his individual strong narrative quality and his cultivated naivety belies a keen eye for detail and composition. This is one of two known versions of this work, the other was sold at Christie's London, 15th March 1985.