Gerard Dillon, R.H.A., R.U.A. (1916-1971)

Pierrots featured in many of the works shown in Dillon's one-man exhibition at the Mercury Gallery in 1967. In the Foreword to the exhibition catalogue James White comments: 'Recently he has been preoccupied with clowns - pierrots in unlikely places which, one supposes, symbolise the artist on his quest or himself among his fantasies. The moon, the sea or the smiling sun are rarely absent. Invariably we must laugh at the strange confrontations which take place between the couple in bed on the fringe of the sea or the three pierrots hiding from those who can see them. Invariably too we come to see that we ought to be sad as well as gay for this is life - this is the predicament with which every day confronts us'.