RIVERS, Elizabeth (1903–1964). Woman with Harp. Original pencil drawing on paper.

Original pencil study depicting a seated female harpist, executed with the fluid, economical line for which Elizabeth Rivers is admired. The composition captures both the quiet concentration of the musician and the graceful architecture of the Irish harp, demonstrating Rivers’ exceptional ability to suggest form and movement through remarkably few strokes. The restrained modernist handling reflects the artist’s lifelong interest in combining careful observation with expressive simplicity.

Elizabeth Rivers occupies a distinctive place in twentieth-century Irish art. Born in England, she settled permanently in Ireland during the 1930s, spending formative years on Inis Mór in the Aran Islands before later working in Dublin. A gifted painter, illustrator, wood engraver and author, she studied under Walter Sickert at the Royal Academy Schools and later in Paris with André Lhote and Gino Severini. She became closely associated with the Irish artistic revival, collaborated with Evie Hone on stained glass projects, and was a founding member of Graphic Studio Dublin. Her works are represented in the collections of the National Gallery of Ireland, the National Library of Ireland, the British Museum and numerous international institutions.

This previously unrecorded drawing originates directly from the Elizabeth Rivers Estate, retaining the estate label on the reverse, providing impeccable provenance and adding considerably to its desirability for collectors of modern Irish art.

Mounted and framed. Overall approximately 56 × 43 cm. The drawing in excellent condition.

Provenance: Elizabeth Rivers Estate; Morgan O’Driscoll, Dublin, 29 June 2026, lot 295.

An elegant and highly collectible original drawing by one of the most important artists associated with twentieth-century Irish printmaking and modern art, combining strong provenance with a timeless subject closely associated with Ireland’s musical heritage.

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