45 / 241
27
Sir William Orpen RA RI RHA (1878-1931)
THE RETURN
ink
inscribed with title lower right
10 x 7in. (25.40 x 17.78cm)
Kindly donated by Richard Olivier, grandson of William Orpen to The William Orpen Memorial Fund.
Local photographer Dominic Lee of Priory Studios has always been an admirer of the work of William Orpen. In 2012
he persuaded the Stillorgan Village Shopping Centre to exhibit a permanent display of Orpen’spaintings and to rename
the first floor “Orpen Mall”. Mr Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht officially opened
the exhibition at which Dominic announced part two of his plan - to have asculpture of William Orpen erected in
Stillorgan.William Orpen was born in Oriel Lodge, Grove Avenue, Stillorgan in 1878. At the age of 12 he attended the
Metropolitian School of Art (now the National College of Art & Design) and later attended the Slade Art Collegein
London. He became a very successful society portrait painter and returned to Dublin regularly to teach in his old college.
He was involved in the “Celtic revival” in Ireland and took part in the attempt to find a visual counterpart to the birth of
a new national literary language. Although his studio was in London, he spent time in Ireland painting; he was a friend
ofHugh Lane and influenced the Irish realist painters, like Seán Keating, who in turn influenced another generation
of Irish painters. Orpen was appointed a War Artist in 1914 and knighted for his services.Rowan Gillespie, renowned
sculptor, from neighbouring Blackrock, has been commissioned to create the memorial. Donations may be made to:The
Stillorgan Chamber of Commerce - Orpen Fund, 12 Lower Kilmacud Road, Stillorgan, Co Dublin, or to
www.iDonate.ie/WilliamOrpen
The proceeds of this lot will go to the William Orpen Memorial Fund.
€ 1,000.00- € 1,500.00 (£750-£1,120 approx.)
Large Image & Place Bid Lot 27IMPORTANT IRISH ART ·
25 MAY 2015 AT 6PM