Mary Stratton Ryan unveils the identity of the Carlow-born artist’s constant model
In a recently discovered French sketchbook, a veiled, mysterious female figure is beautifully captured in fluid vigorous line drawings. The artist devotes ten pages of drawings (Fig 10) to his model, two photographs (Fig 9) and a large study in oil on canvas. When these preparatory studies are reunited they illustrate the creative process leading to the final picture The Widow dated 1882.
David Davidson pays tribute to Bill Doyle, Dublin-born master photographer, who in these fond studies has left an indelible record of his country