When I was young and growing up in the fifties in Dublin I was not aware of art as such. My parents were 'respectable' working class and we allways had books in the house. My father was
old Fianna Fail and there were a lot of irish books in paticular most of which he never actually read and at christmas time the only cards I saw were by Brian O' Higgins. We had no painting
that I can recall apart that is from a view of Dublin harbour by Howard Knee. This was hung in
what was called the parlour. The parlour being the front room, the best room, reverved for visitors and special occasions was permanently cold and no one in the family ever used it
It was a rather bland water colour and I neither liked or disliked it, it was just 'there' and part
of the furniture. A few years age when my parents died I sold it along with some bits and pieces
from the house. I have never missed it and have not been tempted to buy a Howard Knee since.