IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
Contemporary Irish Art Fundraising Auction National Maritime Museum Dún Laoghaire 30th March 2020
FOREWORD I am honoured to be asked to write the foreword to this catalogue for the Imogen Stuart Standing Stone Art Auction. I am greatly looking forward to seeing the proposed standing stone of Imogen Stuart, my neighbour, good friend and artist colleague of many years. In conversation with Imogen she tells me King Laoghaire will be represented and hand-carved on one side of the stone with St Patrick on the other side of the three-sided stone with a 9th century verse by an Irish monk carved in Irish and English on the third side. Imogen is especially happy that the 12 ft Irish granite stone will stand on the Sandycove seafront because here it will be a particularly welcoming place for everybody. Imogen has always been deeply involved in early Irish saints and she has brought this to the forefront of her magnificent legacy. Maria Simonds-Gooding RHA
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Organising Committee would like to thank Imogen Stuart RHA for her wonderful gift of the design for the standing stone: all the artists for their generosity in donating their work for the auction; Ian Whyte, of Whyte and Sons Auctioneers Limited, for conducting the auction and for the advice and support that he has given in the organisation of this event, as well as Marianne Whyte and Adelle Hughes; Declan Traynor, Museum Manager and his staff at the National Maritime Museum for their suppport in mounting the exhibition of the artworks and facilitating the auction; DĂşn Laoghaire Rathdown County Council for their support in the project; Liam Madden of Elm Books, for designing and supervising the printing of this catalogue; Fragrances of Ireland Ltd., the producers of Inis Cologne, for sponsoring the cost of the granite stone from which the sculpture will be carved; Sandycove and Glasthule Residents Association for their generous donation, and the many others who have supported the project by attending fundraising events or giving financial donations. Anyone wishing to make a donation, public or anonymous, can do so using the following bank details:
Name of account: The Imogen Stuart Standing Stone Sort code: 93-34-06 Account Number: 32898159 IBAN: IE05AIBK93340632898159
IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE CONTEMPORARY IRISH ART FUNDRAISING AUCTION Monday 30th March 2020, 7pm
NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM
Haigh Terrace, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, A96 C8X7 www.mariner.ie (01) 214 3964
VIEWING
Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th March: 11am to 5pm Monday 30th March: 11am to 4pm
REGISTRATION
Monday 30th March from 6pm
AUCTION
Monday 30th March at 7.00pm Auction conducted by Ian Whyte PSRA Licence 001759 - 002045
ENQUIRIES
imogenstandingstone@gmail.com
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mogen Stuart is one of Ireland’s most respected artists. Her impressive body of work embraces a wide range of scales, appearing in churches, universities, parks and civic settings throughout the country. Having lived in Sandycove and worked in the same studio for sixty years Imogen is a much loved and admired member of her local community that finds expression through a very active residents association of which she is an enthusiastic and active member. Still working at the age of 92, Imogen has designed a stone sculpture for the small park on the corner of Otranto Place and Sandycove Avenue West, partly as a thank you to this very special place, and equally to the country which made her so welcome ever since she arrived as a young Imogen 1960 woman from her native Germany. Never an artist to be intimidated by monumentality, the piece measures some twelve feet in height and weighs more than three tonnes in weight. Triangular in cross section the sculpture curves and tapers as it rises, with figurative carving on the two sides looking out to sea, while on the third face, inscribed in both Irish and English, will be an ancient Irish text carved in raised lettering that will read: Like many of Imogen’s designs the piece is inspired by ancient Irish art and Imogen 2019 legend. The two figures depict King Laoghaire and St Patrick, while the carved inscription is taken from the margins of an ancient Irish manuscript and translated into English by Seamus Heaney. It refers to the threat of Viking raiders who will not arrive when the wind is strong. Imogen calls the work her “standing stone” and for such a large piece the cost is significant. Wind fierce tonight. Mane of the sea whipped white. I am not afraid. No ravening Norse, On course, Through quiet waters.
To help realise the project a small group of Imogen’s friends, neighbours and admirers formed a committee in June 2019, to raise the necessary funds. By Christmas the committee was half way towards the target due to a number of generous donations received from private individuals and the Sandycove and Glasthule Residents Association, together with one significant corporate donation for the purchase and initial shaping of the stone. Equally impressive has been the gift of original artworks by some thirty-seven of the country’s finest artists, many of whom live locally, or have local connections. In December the architect Carole Pollard presented a wonderful insight into Imogen’s work and particularly her church commissions, while Imogen’s neighbour, the novelist Ann Enright, conducted a fascinating questions and answers session with Imogen. This event raised €1,500 and a fund-raising dinner will also be held in the National Yacht Club some two weeks before the auction.
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Many local businesses have been very generous in their support of these two events with generous gifts for a raffle and wine for receptions. Our local councillors have also been enthusiastic supporters of the project from the outset and the Parks Department of the County Council has been especially helpful in offering to pay for the costs of transportation and erection of the finished sculpture.
IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
Imogen and the committee are humbled by the generosity of the public, corporate and artist donors whose work appears in this auction catalogue. These gifts will lead to the creation of a unique piece of art on the Sandycove sea front, where Imogen has spent two-thirds of her long life. Like all of Imogen’s art, it is a piece that will resonate deep meaning and a strong sense of place, combining ancient history with the world today. The level of interest from local Sandycove and Glasthule residents, and from much further afield is a testament to the respect Imogen commands as an artist and the deep affection she enjoys as a neighbour and friend. Ian Whyte, the highly regarded art auctioneer, has kindly offered to conduct the auction, which will be held on 30th April 2020 in the National Maritime Museum, in Dún Laoghaire. Eleven original drawings by Imogen, which capture the designs of some of her finest sculptures, will also be included bringing the total number of lots to forty-seven. Imogen is currently transferring her design drawings for the standing stone, onto a full scale plywood model of the sculpture that will be placed in the park temporarily to help determine the final location and visual impact of the sculpture on its grassy knoll overlooking Scotsman’s Bay. The quarried stone will then be shaped into its final complex and elegant form after which it will be moved to the workshop of Phil O’Neill, Imogen’s long term collaborator who will carve the two figures. Once in place, a local stone-carver called Ciaran Byrne, who was born in Sallynoggin and currently teaches in Newpark Comprehensive School, will carve the lettering in English and Irish on site. This will allow the public the unique opportunity of seeing a great piece of art being completed over a period of approximately two to three weeks. Plywood model in Imogen’s studio
Inspired by the energy and determination of Imogen, the fundraising committee has worked enthusiastically and tirelessly, dividing tasks equally and each member generously giving of their time. We hope to have reached our target by the end of the auction after which it will then be for the artists to bring the project to fruition. It is our hope and plan that everyone who has contributed to this wonderful community project will be in the excited crowd to witness the lifting into place of The quarried stone Imogen’s Standing Stone. The Imogen Standing Stone Fund-Raising Committee, consisting of - Ann Sheppard; Mary Roche; Pat McGloughlin; Deirdre Torpey; Mairéad Mullaney; David Cox and James Howley would like to thank everyone who has contributed so readily and so generously, in making our task so pleasurable and so easy.
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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1 Treacy, Darragh
CALM WATER LOUGH CORRIB oil on board Signed lower left 10 x 10in (25 x 25cm) €300 - €500
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
2 Scott, Tom
BOATS IN ROUNDSTONE oil on canvas Signed lower right 12 x 14in (30 x 36cm) €300 - €500
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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3 O’Ciosoig, Deirdre
EVENING LIGHT IN DÚN LAOGHAIRE HARBOUR oil on canvas Signed lower left 12 x 16in (30 x 40cm) €300 - €500
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
4 McEntaggart RHA, Brett
DÚN LAOGHAIRE SUNSET oil on panel Signed lower left 12 x 18in (30 x 46cm) €800 - €1200
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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5 Roche, Tom
OLD COURT STABLES oil on board Signed lower right 9 x 11in (23 x 29cm) €300 - €400
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
6 McGloughlin, Pat
FROM HILL TO HARBOUR oil on canvas Signed lower right 20 x 30in (51 x 76cm) €800 - €1000
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
7 Pearson, Peter
THE FORTY FOOT oil on canvas Signed lower right 10 x 14in (26 x 36cm) €900 - €1200
8 King, David
VIEW FROM THE NORTH SHORE DUBLIN - STUDY oil on linen canvas dyptich Signed back of panel 15 x 43in (38 x 110cm) €800 - €1200
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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9 Stuart RHA, Imogen
THE MEETING: KING LAOGHAIRE MEETS ST PATRICK IN IRELAND pencil drawing Signed lower right 15.5 x 11.5in (39 x 29cm)
Design for the standing stone sculpture at Otranto Park, Sandycove, Co Dublin
€800 - €1200
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
10 Stuart RHA, Imogen
THE FLAME OF HUMAN DIGNITY mixed media drawing: graphite and ink Signed lower left 13.5 x 10in (34 x 25.5cm)
Design for sculpture at the Cultural Centre Ireland Paris.
€500 - €700
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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11 Stuart RHA, Imogen
THE IRISH GOOD SHEPHERD pigmented wax rubbing of bronze plaque Signed lower left 7.5 x 4.5in (19 x 11cm)
Design for sculpture for the Church of the Good Shepherd Churchtown Co Dublin
€500 - €700
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
12 Stuart RHA, Imogen
MOTHER LOVE mixed media drawing: pen and ink wax and stain Signed lower left 11 x 6in (28 x 15cm) €400 - €600
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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13 Stuart RHA, Imogen
FATHER AND SON pencil drawing Signed lower left 8.5 x 3.5in (17 x 9.5cm)
Design for St Joseph’s church in Co. Galway
€200 - €400
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
14 Stuart RHA, Imogen
THE CALLING OF ST PATRICK pen and ink drawing Signed lower right 21 x 10in (54 x 25.5cm)
First drawing of St Patrick sculpture in granite for Rathmines Teacher Training College
€600 - €800
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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15 Groener, Anita
CLEARING lithograph Signed bottom right 24 x 36in (61 x 91cm) No.20 in edition of 40
€300 - €400
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
16 Craig, Michael
THE TOWER OF BABEL etching (artist’s proof) Signed reverse 19 x 14.5in (48 x 37cm)
The words running in a border around the sides and top of the etching are taken from Genesis XI.
€500 - €700
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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17 Teljeur, Gerda
LONGING 2020 drawing ink on paper Signed reverse 10 x 12.5in (25 x 32cm) €450 - €600
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
18 MacDonagh, Kate
RHYTHM II waterbased woodcut Signed on back 36 x 24in (60 x 90cm) €500 - €700
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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19 Fox, Jenny
ON THE EDGE OF LIGHT oil and mm on canvas Signed lower right 12 x 12in (30 x 30cm) €500 - €600
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
20 Farrelly, Justin
DHOW colour photograph Signed and dated lower right 16 x 24in (41 x 61cm)
‘Dhow’ – a tradidional Dhow fishing boat sailing off the coast of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean.
€350 - €450
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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21 Cummins, Hugh
WINGS OF OAK wood- oak and limed oak sculpture Signed on base 17 x 10 x 6in (43 x 26 x 14.5cm) 1 of 2
€500 - €700
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
22 O’Neill, Niall
EROSION bronze sculpture Signed on base 12 x 12in (30 x 30cm) unique
€1500 - €2500
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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23 Byrne, Ciaran
I AM NOT AFRAID hand carved Dublin granite sculpture Unsigned 6 x 12in (15 x 30cm)
These words are a line from the ancient Irish text which will be carved on the third face of Imogen’s Standing Stone.
€250 - €350
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
24 Kay, Alison
PALE GREEN VESSEL WITH OFF-CENTRE OPENING ceramic Signed on base with name and symbol 10 x 16in (25 x 40cm) unique
€700 - €900
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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25 Gillespie, Rowan
EYE IN EYE bronze sculpture Signed and dated on back of base 16.25in (41cm) 1 of 3
€6000 - €8000
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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26 Stuart RHA, Imogen
ST MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL pen and ink drawing Signed lower left 3 x 2.5in (8 x 7cm)
Design for St Michael’s church Dún Laoghaire Co Dublin
€200 - €300
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
27 Stuart RHA, Imogen
TREE OF LIFE pen and ink drawing Signed lower left 6.5 x 8in (17 x 20.5cm)
Design for the sculpture of the Tree of Life reredos and altar for St Joseph’s Church Glasthule Co Dublin.
€300 - €500
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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28 Stuart RHA, Imogen
PANGUR BÁN pencil drawing Signed lower right 10 x 5in (25.5 x 13cm)
Design for a sculptural interpretation of one of the Nature Poems written in the 8th century by an Irish monk in the margin of his gospel manuscript ‘The Scholar and his Cat’.
€600 - €800
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
29 Stuart RHA, Imogen
FAITH AND HOPE pen and ink drawing Signed lower left 13.5 x 5.5in (34.5 x 14cm)
Design for sculpture at Knock Basilica Co. Mayo
€300 - €500
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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30 Stuart RHA, Imogen
CANTICLE OF ST FRANCIS pen and ink drawing Signed lower left 15.5 x 11.5in (39.5 x 29cm)
Design for the doors of Newcastle church Co Wicklow
€600 - €800
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
31 Simonds-Gooding RHA, Maria
THE DAY THE BOAT WAS LOOKING FOR THE DOLPHIN etching Signed lower right in pencil 12 x 15in (30 x 39cm) no 23 from an edition of 85
€300 - €500
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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32 Phelan, Maureen
PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN (JAMES JOYCE SERIES) screen /water colour Signed lower right 11 x14in (28 x 36cm) €300 - €400
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
33 MacCabe, Fergal
BUILDINGS OF DÚN LAOGHAIRE limited edition print Signed lower left 27.5 x 35.5in (70 x 90cm) no 12 from an edition of 30
€300 - €400
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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34 Butler, Liam
NATURE’S INFLUENCE copper on block of Kilkenny limestone Signed on bird’s tail 22 ins high on 6 x 6 in block (56 cm high on 15 x 15cm block) €800 - €1200
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
35 Hickey, Aidan
THE DANCE (AFTER MATISSE) acrylic on canvas Signed lower right 28 x 40in (70 x 100cm) €500 - €700
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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36 Mellon, Orla
LITTLE FINCH acrylic on canvas Signed lower right 12 x12in (30 x 30cm) €200 - €350
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
37 Bardon, Jean
BLUE PAVILION etching with gold leaf Signed bottom right pencil 15.5 by 14in (39 x 36cm)
no 19 from an edition of 30. The design is based on a Chinese pavilion in the gardens of Mount Congreve.
€385 - €500
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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38 O’Hagan, Laura
STRENGTH AND FRAGILITY Stoneware and porcelain Signed on base 11 x 12 x 7in (28 x 30 x 18cm) €200 - €300
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
39 Ball, Jackie
MINDFULL KINDNESS ceramic bronze concrete Signed back of plinth lower left 12 x 4in (31 x 10cm) €300 - €500
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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40 Cunningham, Roisin
LIFE MODELS (SET OF 2) giclee digital prints (2) Signed each on back 8 x 5in (20 x13cm) €200 - €250
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
41 MacAleavey, Cathy
THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING ink drawing Signed lower left 17 x 12in (43 x 31cm) €150 - €200
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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42 Mellet, Janetta
STILL RAINING pastel Signed lower right 11.5 x 9in (29 x 23cm) €400 - €600
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
43 Hayes, David
KEJT water colour Signed lower right 18 x 12in (45 x 30cm) €350 - €550
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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44 Hyland, Jan
PLOCKTON WEST OF SCOTLAND oil on canvas Signed lower right 17 x 23in (43 x 59cm) €300 - €500
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
45 Nisbet RHA, Tom (1909-2001)
PASTORAL SCENE water colour Signed and dated lower right 15 x 11in (38 x 28cm)
Painting donated by a former resident of Dún Laoghaire.
€200 - €300
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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46 Ryan, Nerys
SHANNON ONE DESIGN RACE water colour Signed lower right 11 x 15in (29 x 38cm) €450 - €600
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IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
47 O’Brolchain, Padraic
ROYAL ST GEORGE YACHT CLUB oil on board Signed lower right 16 x 12in (41 x 31cm) €250 - €400
FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION
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Notes
If you would like to support the fundraising, you can find bank details on the inside front cover of this catalogue.
INDEX OF ARTISTS REPRESENTED IN THIS AUCTION By page number Ball, Jackie....................................... 43
McEntaggart RHA, Brett....................7
Bardon, Jean.....................................41
McGloughlin, Pat............................... 9
Butler, Liam..................................... 38
Mellet, Janetta................................. 46
Byrne, Ciaran................................... 26
Mellon, Orla..................................... 40
Craig, Michael...................................19
Nisbet RHA, Tom............................ 49
Cummins, Hugh.............................. 24
O’Brolchain, Padraic.........................51
Cunningham, Roisin........................ 44
O’Ciosoig, Deirdre............................. 6
Farrelly, Justin................................. 23
O’Hagan, Laura................................ 42
Fox, Jenny........................................ 22
O’Neill, Niall.................................... 25
Gillespie, Rowan.............................. 28
Pearson, Peter...................................10
Groener, Anita..................................18
Phelan, Maureen.............................. 36
Hayes, David.....................................47
Roche, Tom........................................ 8
Hickey, Aidan.................................. 39
Ryan, Nerys...................................... 50
Hyland, Jan...................................... 48
Scott, Tom...........................................5
Kay, Alison........................................27
Simonds-Gooding RHA, Maria....... 35
King, David.......................................10
Stuart RHA, Imogen...... 12-17, 30-34
MacAleavey, Cathy.......................... 45
Teljeur, Gerda.................................. 20
MacCabe, Fergal...............................37
Treacy, Darragh................................. 4
MacDonagh, Kate.............................21
IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE
Design for the standing stone sculpture at Otranto Park, Sandycove, Co Dublin