Whyte's IMPORTANT IRISH ART 6 MARCH 2023 AT 6PM

112 89 Jim Fitzpatrick (b.1946) STRANGE DAYS, 2003 oil on canvas; (unframed) signed, inscribed [Portrait of Sinéad O’Connor] and dated upper left; also signed on reverse by Sinéad O’Connor 48 by 72in. (121.9 by 182.9cm) Provenance: Collection of Sinéad O’Connor; Whyte’s, 22 February 2005, lot 226; Private collection; Whyte’s, 28 November 2011, lot 65; Private collection This portrait of singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor was originally commissioned for a Dublin nightclub, Lillie’s Bordello, that was being refurbished due to a fire, but was ultimately purchased by the sitter. Compositionally it references Roderic O’Conor’s Reclining Nude (NGI) – in turn a tribute to Velázquez’ Rokeby Venus. The view through the window shows the Pigeon House area of Dublin, an area of particular significance for O’Connor, and was included at her request. Jim Fitzpatrick is a Dublin born painter and graphic designer whose work draws strongly on Ireland’s Celtic mythology. For the past forty years his work has become familiar to many in the form of posters, book jacket designs and album covers. He has also written and illustrated numerous books and designed a stained-glass window for Bewley’s Café‚ in Mary Street, Dublin. His murals in Captain America’s restaurant in Dublin were a city landmark and he created the graphic reproduction of Alberto Korda’s photograph of Ché Guevara that has become a worldwide icon. He has long been a friend of O’Connor’s and designed the cover of her album, Faith and Courage, which was released in June 2000. €20,000-€30,000 (£17,700-£26,550 approx.) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot89