The Blessing of the Fleet by James Mahony
The Blessing of the Fleet by the Cork artist James Mahony is a highlight of the sale at Cork Auction Rooms on July 2. Born in Cork in either 1811 or 1817 the artist is best known for his harrowing illustrations of the famine for The Illustrated London News, where he worked as an artist and reporter. When a painting by James Mahony of The Consecration of St. Mary’s, Pope’s Quay around 1842 came up at Whyte’s in Dublin in 2015 the Great Hunger Museum at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut paid 19,000 at hammer for a work that had been estimated at 8,000-10,000.
The Dominican congregation in Cork were the disappointed underbidders. A replica of the work was subsequently presented by the Dublin auctioneers to the Cork Dominican Church and priory. Among the other lots coming up at Cork Auction Rooms tomorrow are a stained glass window design by Evie Hone based on the apparition at Fatima for St. Mary’s Church, Kingscourt, Co. Cavan, a gramophone with chinoiserie cabinet, a selection of gold coins and a greyhound painting by the popular contemporary artist Mark O’Neill.