Imogen Stuart's Standing Stone Fundraising Art Auction Catalogue

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

I

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.

4

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

5

1 Treacy, Darragh

CALM WATER LOUGH CORRIB oil on board Signed lower left 10 x 10in (25 x 25cm) €300 - €500

6

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

7

3 O’Ciosoig, Deirdre

EVENING LIGHT IN DÚN LAOGHAIRE HARBOUR oil on canvas Signed lower left 12 x 16in (30 x 40cm) €300 - €500

8

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

9

5 Roche, Tom

OLD COURT STABLES oil on board Signed lower right 9 x 11in (23 x 29cm) €300 - €400

10

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

11

12

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

13

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

14

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

15

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

16

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

17

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

18

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

19

15 Groener, Anita

CLEARING lithograph Signed bottom right 24 x 36in (61 x 91cm) No.20 in edition of 40

€300 - €400

20

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

21

17 Teljeur, Gerda

LONGING 2020 drawing ink on paper Signed reverse 10 x 12.5in (25 x 32cm) €450 - €600

22

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

23

19 Fox, Jenny

ON THE EDGE OF LIGHT oil and mm on canvas Signed lower right 12 x 12in (30 x 30cm) €500 - €600

24

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

25

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

26

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

27

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

28

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

29

25 Gillespie, Rowan

EYE IN EYE bronze sculpture Signed and dated on back of base 16.25in (41cm) 1 of 3

€6000 - €8000

30

IMOGEN STUART’S STANDING STONE

FUNDRAISING ART AUCTION

31

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

32

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

33

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

34

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

35

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

36

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

37

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

38

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

39

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

40

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

41

36 Mellon, Orla

LITTLE FINCH acrylic on canvas Signed lower right 12 x12in (30 x 30cm) €200 - €350

42

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

43

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

44

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

45

40 Cunningham, Roisin

LIFE MODELS (SET OF 2) giclee digital prints (2) Signed each on back 8 x 5in (20 x13cm) €200 - €250

46

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

47

42 Mellet, Janetta

STILL RAINING pastel Signed lower right 11.5 x 9in (29 x 23cm) €400 - €600

48

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

49

44 Hyland, Jan

PLOCKTON WEST OF SCOTLAND oil on canvas Signed lower right 17 x 23in (43 x 59cm) €300 - €500

50

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

51

46 Ryan, Nerys

SHANNON ONE DESIGN RACE water colour Signed lower right 11 x 15in (29 x 38cm) €450 - €600

52

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

53

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