Homan Potterton, art historian who revitalised Ireland’s National Gallery – obituary
He resigned from his post after eight years in protest at slow progress over repairs, but went on to become an acclaimed writer
Homan Potterton
Homan Potterton, who has died aged 74, was Director of the National Gallery of Ireland from 1980 until 1988, and then devoted himself to writing about art before turning, with remarkable versatility, to produce two books of memoirs and a novel.
The first of these memoirs, Rathcormick, told the story of an Irish upbringing as the youngest of eight children; he was born Homan Franklyn Potterton on May 9 1946 into a Protestant farming family of remote English descent, who lived in a bubble somewhat isolated from their Catholic compatriots but were neither posh nor anglicised.
Bluebeard’s last wife should have known better. He already had been married to several wives and nobody knew what had become of them. That was her first warning. Then he told her not to open the door to his secret chamber, while allowing her access to the key. Her curiosity would not be denied.
Finally, having discovered what was in the chamber (dead wives), she orchestrated his downfall and became mistress of all his estate. Bluebeard was a nasty piece of work, but his last wife was also a woman to be reckoned with. She was the one that got away.
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