The painting below uses oil and mixed media on canvas .
Liam Belton, RHA (b.1947 Dublin)
The ancient dolmen featured in this painting are more than 5,000 years old and pre-date the pyramids of Egypt. They are located in a remote northern part of County Donegal, about a mile from the Bonny Glen and near the town of Ardara. County Donegal was the birthplace of St Columba who founded the monastic settlement of Iona.
The subject matter is intended as a reference to the migration of people between Scotland and Northern Ireland from the Mesolithic and Neolithic era until the present day.
The artist has captured the mystery of the ancient dolmen using materials such as Donegal sand mixed with paint.
The painting was gifted to the Parliament by the Irish Houses of Parliament and presented by Dr Rory O’Hanlon, TD, Ceann Comhairle, on behalf of Dail Eireann on 8 October 2004.
Artist Biography
Liam Belton was born in Dublin and studied at the National College of Art. He was Keeper of the Royal Hibernian Academy for many years and a Governor of the National Gallery of Ireland. He is currently on the board of the Royal Hibernian Academy. His work often imbues the subject matter with a monumentality or stillness.