- 82
Roderic O'Conor 1860-1940
Estimate
50,000 - 70,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Roderic O'Conor
- still life with vase of flowers and fruit on a tray
- stamped atelier O'CONOR on the reverse
- oil on canvas
- 59.5 by 73.5cm.; 23½ by 29in.
Provenance
Hotel Drouot, Paris, Vente O'Conor, 7 February 1956
Literature
Jonathan Benington, Roderic O'Conor, a Biography with a Catalogue of his Work, Dublin 1992, no.223.
Catalogue Note
Executed circa 1919-20, the present work, taken beyond the level of a sketch, has been lightly painted throughout and reveals O’Conor’s working methods as he began to build up a painting. The evidence from this work confirms that his preference was to keep preliminary drawing to a minimum and to work tonally with rich colour contrasts in the earliest stages. To achieve this richness of colour O'Conor frequently made use of complementary colours such as red and green, as he does here to good effect in the background drapery. The container for the flowers and the circular tray appear in several other still lifes among the many which he painted in his Paris studio after 1904, following his 13 year association with Brittany.
In the background a few bold brush marks help to define folds and changes of light in the drapery. Some of the flowers to the left have been drawn in with the brush using a thin turpentine wash and have been left unpainted so that the bare canvas shows through. At first glance the foreground fruit appears to be fully executed, but these convincing forms have also been achieved economically with minimal paint application. Although this is little more than a sketch, O'Conor has already achieved a lively and expressive painting.
Roy Johnston Ph.D.
In the background a few bold brush marks help to define folds and changes of light in the drapery. Some of the flowers to the left have been drawn in with the brush using a thin turpentine wash and have been left unpainted so that the bare canvas shows through. At first glance the foreground fruit appears to be fully executed, but these convincing forms have also been achieved economically with minimal paint application. Although this is little more than a sketch, O'Conor has already achieved a lively and expressive painting.
Roy Johnston Ph.D.