Strange Days 2003 by Jim Fitzpatrick, which depicts singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor comes up as lot 89 at Whyte’s sale of Important Irish Art on March 6. Originally commissioned for Dublin nightclub, Lillie’s Bordello it was ultimately purchased by the sitter at her then husband’s insistence – he didn’t like the idea of an image of his naked wife on display in a nightclub! It references Roderic O’Conor’s Reclining Nude (NGI) – in turn a tribute to Velázquez’ Rokeby Venus. The oil on canvas is estimated at €20,000-30,000.
The view through the window shows the Pigeon House area of Dublin, an area of particular significance for O’Connor – she was living nearby at the time and it 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. 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 for her album Faith and Courage released in 2000.