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Tony O'Malley
RHAPSODY ON A THEME OF BIRD HOUSES AND ASH TREE
Lot 7
Price Realised:
€36,000
Estimate:
€30,000 - €40,000
Tony O'Malley HRHA, 1913-2003
RHAPSODY ON A THEME OF BIRD HOUSES AND ASH TREE
Oil on panel, 46" x 34" (116.8 x 86.4cm), signed; signed, inscribed and dated 1986 verso. Opus no. 1421.
Provenance: Taylor Galleries, Dublin (label verso); P...
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Lot 7
Tony O'Malley
RHAPSODY ON A THEME OF BIRD HOUSES AND ASH TREE
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Lot 7
Tony O'Malley
RHAPSODY ON A THEME OF BIRD HOUSES AND ASH TREE
Estimate:
€30,000 - €40,000
Tony O'Malley HRHA, 1913-2003
RHAPSODY ON A THEME OF BIRD HOUSES AND ASH TREE
Oil on panel, 46" x 34" (116.8 x 86.4cm), signed; signed, inscribed and dated 1986 verso. Opus no. 1421.
Provenance: Taylor Galleries, Dublin (label verso); Private Collection.
This picture draws together several motifs that O'Malley returned to again and again during his life: birds, trees, and the 'music' of nature. The outdoor cacophony of sound, colour, light and movement that assault the senses excited O'Malley, giving him inspiration for abstract works that successfully convey his experience of nature to the viewer. When you look at the painting, you can feel how the artist was uplifted and energised by the experience.
Although a bird in the upper-right is identifiable, the whole painting conjures up not only the frenetic flutter of feathers and beaks, but also the intensity of the squawking alongside a windy swish of the trees. ' O'Malley once explained: 'There is music in nature all the time. Sometimes I make a landscape with the caw of a crow…The crows are over in the wood there now and I love that sound, so I might make a painting out of that and make it visual. I've often painted what I call a tumble of crows…the squalling and the squawking and the crows tumbling out of one another.'
Compositionally, O'Malley's works are tremendously satisfying. Rhythmically, this painting is held together by strong flowing vertical channels that lock the foreground and background together. Against this, the dramatic bird's head, with its totemic eye, grabs our attention. This motif is echoed more subtly throughout the composition so that, if you look closely, you unexpectedly find pointed wedge shapes punctuated by a beady 'eye'. Areas of bright stippled colour suggest the richness of plumage, while giving the picture a lively staccato that provides a counterpoint to the smooth vertical sweep of the composition. It's interesting that O'Malley uses the work 'rhapsody' in the title, as the picture has a definite musicality.
Like in so many of his paintings, this one draws on O'Malley's totality of experience, the seeing plus the feeling. He looks, feels, digests and then remembers a sensation, using this 'inscape' as the starting point for a visually engaging abstract composition.
Dr Frances Ruane HRHA
RHAPSODY ON A THEME OF BIRD HOUSES AND ASH TREE
Oil on panel, 46" x 34" (116.8 x 86.4cm), signed; signed, inscribed and dated 1986 verso. Opus no. 1421.
Provenance: Taylor Galleries, Dublin (label verso); Private Collection.
This picture draws together several motifs that O'Malley returned to again and again during his life: birds, trees, and the 'music' of nature. The outdoor cacophony of sound, colour, light and movement that assault the senses excited O'Malley, giving him inspiration for abstract works that successfully convey his experience of nature to the viewer. When you look at the painting, you can feel how the artist was uplifted and energised by the experience.
Although a bird in the upper-right is identifiable, the whole painting conjures up not only the frenetic flutter of feathers and beaks, but also the intensity of the squawking alongside a windy swish of the trees. ' O'Malley once explained: 'There is music in nature all the time. Sometimes I make a landscape with the caw of a crow…The crows are over in the wood there now and I love that sound, so I might make a painting out of that and make it visual. I've often painted what I call a tumble of crows…the squalling and the squawking and the crows tumbling out of one another.'
Compositionally, O'Malley's works are tremendously satisfying. Rhythmically, this painting is held together by strong flowing vertical channels that lock the foreground and background together. Against this, the dramatic bird's head, with its totemic eye, grabs our attention. This motif is echoed more subtly throughout the composition so that, if you look closely, you unexpectedly find pointed wedge shapes punctuated by a beady 'eye'. Areas of bright stippled colour suggest the richness of plumage, while giving the picture a lively staccato that provides a counterpoint to the smooth vertical sweep of the composition. It's interesting that O'Malley uses the work 'rhapsody' in the title, as the picture has a definite musicality.
Like in so many of his paintings, this one draws on O'Malley's totality of experience, the seeing plus the feeling. He looks, feels, digests and then remembers a sensation, using this 'inscape' as the starting point for a visually engaging abstract composition.
Dr Frances Ruane HRHA
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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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