Bidding on this item has ended.
Hughie O'Donoghue
MARSYAS
Lot 8
Price Realised:
€4,400
Estimate:
€4,000 - €6,000
Hughie O'Donoghue RA, b.1953
MARSYAS
Oil on board, 18" x 23" (45.7 x 58.5cm), signed, inscribed and dated 2003 verso.
O'Donoghue's artwork is consumed by the subject of memory and reflection, in particular his father's experience as a ...
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Lot 8
Hughie O'Donoghue
MARSYAS
Lot 8
Hughie O'Donoghue
MARSYAS
Estimate:
€4,000 - €6,000
Hughie O'Donoghue RA, b.1953
MARSYAS
Oil on board, 18" x 23" (45.7 x 58.5cm), signed, inscribed and dated 2003 verso.
O'Donoghue's artwork is consumed by the subject of memory and reflection, in particular his father's experience as a navigator in Italy during World War II and the letters he wrote describing it. included was a postcard from Rome, showing a sculpture of Marsyas bound to a tree. The myth concerns a satyr whose virtuosity on the flute so fired the envy of the lyre-playing Apollo that he challenged him to a musical contest, in which the winner would decide the fate of the loser. The muses inevitably judged in favour of Apollo, and the hapless Marsyas was tied to a pine tree and flayed alive.
Its appeal for O'Donoghue lies in the explicit equation of skin with paint, first manifested in Titian's great painting The Flaying of Marsyas. "At one stage I had a reproduction of the Titian and one of the bog figure photographs on the wall of the studio. But I never work directly from photographs, because memory is such an important part of what I do. Lucian Freud once said he always paints directly from life, in order to avoid the tyranny of memory. I'm all in favour of the tyranny of memory. Because I want to paint how it feels to be in a body, rather than its external appearance."
MARSYAS
Oil on board, 18" x 23" (45.7 x 58.5cm), signed, inscribed and dated 2003 verso.
O'Donoghue's artwork is consumed by the subject of memory and reflection, in particular his father's experience as a navigator in Italy during World War II and the letters he wrote describing it. included was a postcard from Rome, showing a sculpture of Marsyas bound to a tree. The myth concerns a satyr whose virtuosity on the flute so fired the envy of the lyre-playing Apollo that he challenged him to a musical contest, in which the winner would decide the fate of the loser. The muses inevitably judged in favour of Apollo, and the hapless Marsyas was tied to a pine tree and flayed alive.
Its appeal for O'Donoghue lies in the explicit equation of skin with paint, first manifested in Titian's great painting The Flaying of Marsyas. "At one stage I had a reproduction of the Titian and one of the bog figure photographs on the wall of the studio. But I never work directly from photographs, because memory is such an important part of what I do. Lucian Freud once said he always paints directly from life, in order to avoid the tyranny of memory. I'm all in favour of the tyranny of memory. Because I want to paint how it feels to be in a body, rather than its external appearance."
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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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