Louis le Brocquy, H.R.H.A.

Gimpel Fils, London, where purchased by McCrory Coproation, N.Y., October 1968;
Sotheby's, 24 October 2006, lot 73;
Private collection

London, Gimpel Fils, 1968, no.39;
Zurich, Gimpel & Hanover Galerie, 1969

Original canvas. The work appears in good overall condition. Under ultraviolet light there appear to be no signs of retouching. Held in original frame under glass; unexamined out of frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

'Like the Celts I tend to regard the head as this magic box containing the spirit. Enter that box, enter behind the billowing curtain of the face, and you have the whole landscape of the spirit' (see lebrocquy.com, Ancestral Heads, c.1964-74).

le Brocquy's Head series, which now forms perhaps the best known body of his work, emerged out of a period of crisis in the early 1960s when the artist was at a loss for inspiration. Discovering Polynesian heads at the Musée de l'Homme in Paris was a turning point for the artist, having a profound impact on how he believed the human head, and presence, could be reimagined. The encounter in turn kindled the artist's interest in Celtic head culture and its emphasis on the spirit. The present work, with its transient qualities and sense of unveiling, stems from this new understanding. It, and the Head series as a whole, reveal le Brocquy's singular vision, one which successfully unites international modernism rooted in an ancient, Irish tradition.