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Hughie O'Donoghue
THE WRECK
Lot 46
Price Realised:
€18,500
Estimate:
€15,000 - €20,000
Hughie O'Donoghue RA, b.1953
THE WRECK
Oil and mixed media on wood, 18 1/4" x 30 1/2" (46.3 x 77.5cm), signed; signed, inscribed and dated 2007 verso.
For two decades now, an enduring and evolving cipher in Hughie O'Donoghue's painting h...
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Lot 46
Hughie O'Donoghue
THE WRECK
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Lot 46
Hughie O'Donoghue
THE WRECK
Estimate:
€15,000 - €20,000
Hughie O'Donoghue RA, b.1953
THE WRECK
Oil and mixed media on wood, 18 1/4" x 30 1/2" (46.3 x 77.5cm), signed; signed, inscribed and dated 2007 verso.
For two decades now, an enduring and evolving cipher in Hughie O'Donoghue's painting has come in the form of the Plassy, a former British merchant ship which lies wrecked on Inis Oirr and is visible from the mainland. A playground of unlimited imagination during the artist's childhood when he came each Summer on holiday, this rusting hulk has become a vessel of protean meaning depending on the artist's focus.
The Wreck of 2005 is a constructivist work with a copy of William Falconer's The Shipwreck integrated into the painting. Falconer, an 18th century Scottish poet was a sailor whose epic poem recounts the loss of the merchant ship Brittania and is loosely based on his experience as a survivor at sea. Falconer was lost in the sinking of another ship, the Aurora in 1769.
O'Donoghue grafts the living wreck of his memory onto the story of a related human tragedy deeper in water and in time. In the realm of history there lies an inevitable circularity, perhaps.
Oliver Sears, October 2023
THE WRECK
Oil and mixed media on wood, 18 1/4" x 30 1/2" (46.3 x 77.5cm), signed; signed, inscribed and dated 2007 verso.
For two decades now, an enduring and evolving cipher in Hughie O'Donoghue's painting has come in the form of the Plassy, a former British merchant ship which lies wrecked on Inis Oirr and is visible from the mainland. A playground of unlimited imagination during the artist's childhood when he came each Summer on holiday, this rusting hulk has become a vessel of protean meaning depending on the artist's focus.
The Wreck of 2005 is a constructivist work with a copy of William Falconer's The Shipwreck integrated into the painting. Falconer, an 18th century Scottish poet was a sailor whose epic poem recounts the loss of the merchant ship Brittania and is loosely based on his experience as a survivor at sea. Falconer was lost in the sinking of another ship, the Aurora in 1769.
O'Donoghue grafts the living wreck of his memory onto the story of a related human tragedy deeper in water and in time. In the realm of history there lies an inevitable circularity, perhaps.
Oliver Sears, October 2023
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In order to allow rival bidders the opportunity to respond to a late bid the following extensions will apply:
IF A BID IS RECEIVED WITHIN THE FINAL 45 SECONDS OF THE COUNTDOWN THE CLOCK WILL RESET TO 60 SECONDS.
At any point you can leave a maximum bid, representing the highest price you are prepared to pay for a particular lot. Bidding only advances when there is competition from a rival bidder. In that case the system bids on your behalf, only up to the maximum if required. All bids are relayed to you be email, along with notification if you have been outbid.
All maximum bids are confidential and not disclosed. The system will endeavor to purchase the lot for you for the least price. Bids are subject to buyer’s premium of 25% (incl vat), with no additional charges.
In the event of a tied bid, the preference will be given to the bid submitted first. The second bidder will receive immediate notification of being outbid.
PLEASE BID EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT.
In order to allow rival bidders the opportunity to respond to a late bid the following extensions will apply:
IF A BID IS RECEIVED WITHIN THE FINAL 45 SECONDS OF THE COUNTDOWN THE CLOCK WILL RESET TO 60 SECONDS.
At any point you can leave a maximum bid, representing the highest price you are prepared to pay for a particular lot. Bidding only advances when there is competition from a rival bidder. In that case the system bids on your behalf, only up to the maximum if required. All bids are relayed to you be email, along with notification if you have been outbid.
All maximum bids are confidential and not disclosed. The system will endeavor to purchase the lot for you for the least price. Bids are subject to buyer’s premium of 25% (incl vat), with no additional charges.
In the event of a tied bid, the preference will be given to the bid submitted first. The second bidder will receive immediate notification of being outbid.
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