It's Fireworks by Gerald Davis

Gerald Davis

'It's Fireworks'

James Joyce Centre Dublin, Ireland

'It's Fireworks' by Gerald Davis
— It's fireworks, Cissy Caffrey said.

And they all ran down the strand to see over the houses and the church, helterskelter, Edy with the pushcar with baby Boardman in it and Cissy holding Tommy and Jacky by the hand so they wouldn't fall running.

— Come on, Gerty, Cissy called. It's the bazaar fireworks.

(James Joyce, Ulysses, Chapter 13 - Nausicaa)


The painter, gallery owner and Joycean enthusiast Gerald Davis (1938 - 18 June 2005) lit up the art scene in Dublin for many years. He was a generous man who helped many, including the writer of these lines whom Davis once advised 'you have what it takes to become a good gallerist'.

Back in 2016, with the help of Gerald's children, the Olivier Cornet Gallery organised a homage-exhibition of his work. The show, titled 'Portrait of Gerald Davis as an artist', was inaugurated at the start of the Bloomsday Festival that year. It was reviewed by John P. O'Sullivan in the Sunday Times. 

It was a very proud moment for this gallerist to be asked by 'Ger's family to facilitate the donation to the James Joyce Centre Dublin of 'It's Fireworks', one of the paintings in the show at the gallery. The painting has been hanging at the James Joyce Centre in Dublin ever since. Even the Apollo Magazine mentioned it!

Olivier Cornet, 18 June 2020

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