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John Shinnors
SCARECROW, LOOPHEAD
Lot 30
Price Realised:
€20,000
Estimate:
€20,000 - €30,000
John Shinnors, b.1950
SCARECROW, LOOPHEAD
Oil on canvas laid on board, 30" x 32" (76.1 x 81.2cm), signed; signed, inscribed and dated 1998 verso.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner.
Born in Limerick in 1...
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Lot 30
John Shinnors
SCARECROW, LOOPHEAD
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Lot 30
John Shinnors
SCARECROW, LOOPHEAD
Estimate:
€20,000 - €30,000
John Shinnors, b.1950
SCARECROW, LOOPHEAD
Oil on canvas laid on board, 30" x 32" (76.1 x 81.2cm), signed; signed, inscribed and dated 1998 verso.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner.
Born in Limerick in 1950, John Shinnors has lived and worked in his native city nearly all his life. His style is immediately identifiable, often using a reduced palette of black and white relieved by brightly coloured underpainting and glimpses of a brighter colour.
The neutral tones that dominate Scarecrow, Loophead are beautifully orchestrated, with an array of mid-tones set against a velvety black and brilliant white. However, the canvas comes alive with the slivers of bright, rich yellow that peek out at us, making the canvas sparkle.
In a Shinnors painting, what initially seems like an abstract pattern has observable things as its source: cows, cats, rooks, fish, kites, scarecrows and road markings are among the things that are frequent source material. But Shinnors doesn't try to 'represent' them. Instead, he uses them (in this case, a scarecrow) as visual triggers, isolated fragments of the observed world that lead the artist into abstract territory. He wants the painting itself to take over, so that we stop seeing the literal and become taken up with the drama and interplay of colour, texture and abstract shapes. He takes something familiar and plays with it so that the viewer encounters the ordinary in a refreshingly new and visually engaging way. That's why paintings like this have a sense of both newness and familiarity about them—we connect in some incomprehensible way to the 'seen' world.
Dr Frances Ruane HRHA
October 2023
SCARECROW, LOOPHEAD
Oil on canvas laid on board, 30" x 32" (76.1 x 81.2cm), signed; signed, inscribed and dated 1998 verso.
Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner.
Born in Limerick in 1950, John Shinnors has lived and worked in his native city nearly all his life. His style is immediately identifiable, often using a reduced palette of black and white relieved by brightly coloured underpainting and glimpses of a brighter colour.
The neutral tones that dominate Scarecrow, Loophead are beautifully orchestrated, with an array of mid-tones set against a velvety black and brilliant white. However, the canvas comes alive with the slivers of bright, rich yellow that peek out at us, making the canvas sparkle.
In a Shinnors painting, what initially seems like an abstract pattern has observable things as its source: cows, cats, rooks, fish, kites, scarecrows and road markings are among the things that are frequent source material. But Shinnors doesn't try to 'represent' them. Instead, he uses them (in this case, a scarecrow) as visual triggers, isolated fragments of the observed world that lead the artist into abstract territory. He wants the painting itself to take over, so that we stop seeing the literal and become taken up with the drama and interplay of colour, texture and abstract shapes. He takes something familiar and plays with it so that the viewer encounters the ordinary in a refreshingly new and visually engaging way. That's why paintings like this have a sense of both newness and familiarity about them—we connect in some incomprehensible way to the 'seen' world.
Dr Frances Ruane HRHA
October 2023
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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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