This house was home to the late Peter Collis RHA and his family for almost 44 years. Described by many critics as Ireland’s Cézanne, he came to the country in 1969, and after discovering what he described as a “profound connect with the Irish landscape” made Monkstown his home.
A member of the Royal Hibernian Academy since 1990, Collis was a recipient of a string of awards, and his work graces the walls of the University of Limerick, the Office of Public Works, and of many private collectors such as Oscar-winning producer Lord David Puttnam.
His daughter Katie, a bush pilot, whose work has taken her to many inhospitable regions of the world, remembers trips to Connemara, where her father would stop the car to observe the scenery and explain the light and colours.
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Collis’s work hangs throughout the property – a charming, double-fronted, end of terrace house in a tiny cul-de-sac tucked off Temple Hill.
The dark and sombre palette of black, greys and sullen greens used in his paintings is a contrast to the bright warm colours of rose pinks and pastel greens used on the walls throughout his home.
At basement level, which Katie refers to “as a bit of a rabbit warren”, are a kitchen, bedroom and two store rooms all with quite low ceilings.
Collis originally used the small bedroom here as his studio. In later years he had an extension added to the rear of the property to house his new studio, a bright room with two walls of glass overlooking the south -facing rear garden.
New owners have huge potential to amalgamate the rooms together and can take inspiration from the first house on the terrace for ideas.
Off the entrance hall are two reception rooms, both of which enjoy dual aspect with original sash windows, and the dining room features an impressive fireplace.
Upstairs are three more bedrooms bringing the total number to four.
The master bedroom runs the entire width of the property, and Collis’s love of colour is most evident here, where the walls, ceilings and furniture are all shades of dusky pink.
The 189sq m (2,034sq ft) house, with great period details, is in need of some upgrading and is for sale through Sherry FitzGerald with an asking price of €925,000.
