λ William Conor (Irish 1881-1968) Three huddled figures Charcoal Signed (lower right) 61 x 48.5cm (24 x 19 in.) William Conor was born in Belfast in 1881. Conor is admired for his powerful, insightful and sympathetic depictions of working class life in Ulster. Whilst attending the Government School of Design his passion for art and natural skill were noticed by his music teacher Louis Mantell. Conor apprenticed for David Allen & Sons Ltd., as a poster designer between 1904-1909. Conor travelled across the Blasket Islands, Dingle Bay and County Kerry before moving to Paris where he exhibited at the Paris Salon, then on to London in 1920. Just a year later, Conor exhibited at the Royal Academy and became acquainted with important artistic figures of the time such as Augustus John and Sir John Lavery. Conor worked for the government during the war years to record Northern Ireland's participation in the war. In 1930 Conor was elected academician to the Ulster Academy of Arts. In 1952 Conor received an OBE. 'In the first place Conor is a painter of genius and in the second place he is a painter of Belfast.' Holbrook Johnson, The Studio Magazine, 1925