Sir William Orpen – Portrait of Evelyn St. George
A dazzling portrait by an artist dazzled by his subject is among the leading lots at Sotheby’s Modern British and Irish art auctions in London on November 14 and 15.
Sir William Orpen’s portrait of Mrs. Evelyn St. George depicts his lover and the woman he was in love with for much of his life. They met around 1906 through family connections. The artist’s mother, formerly Annie Caulfield, was related to Howard St. George, an Irish land agent. Evelyn was an American millionaire, daughter of George Fisher Baker, president of the National Bank of America. He was considered to be the third richest man in America after Henry Ford and John D Rockefeller.
Evelyn was eight years older than Orpen and a foot taller. Both were married. Their relationship was long and enduring and they became known as little and large. She commissioned a number of portraits of herself. Orpen was known for his brilliant portraits of wealthy and fashionable members of Edwardian society. He was knighted in 1918 for his wartime service as an official war artist. A collection of his work is held at the Imperial War Museum in London.
Sotheby’s describe this painting as one of his greatest masterpieces of portraiture. Estimated at €720,000-€960,000 it is on display today and tomorrow at the RHA in Dublin alongside a collection of Irish artworks to be offered later this month in London.
The exhibit and sale will include maritime paintings by the Atkinson family of Cobh collected by the late Dr. Denis Wilson of Cork. All were exhibited at the Maritime Paintings of Cork exhibition by the Port of Cork at the Crawford Gallery in 2005. The White Squadron in Cork Harbour and The ironclad battleship Alfred in Cork Harbour by George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson are each estimated at £8,000-£12,000 (€9,600-€14,400); The steam yacht Victoria and Albert in Cork Harbour, 1849 and Two Naval Ships at anchor in Plymouth by George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson are each estimated at £7,000-£10,000 (€8,400-€12,000) and Three masted barque and two sailing ships at Queenstown by Richard Peterson Atkinson is estimated at £5,000-£7,000 (€6,000-€8,400).
The Bathing Hour, Lido, Venice by Sir John Lavery is estimated at €720,000-€960,000 and the auction will include two works by Gerard Dillon and art by Colin MIddleton, Paul Henry, Nanon Reid, Jack Coulter, Hughie O’Donoghue, Maser, Melissa O’Donnell, Gareth Reid (Sky Portrait artist of the Decade, 2023) Richard Hearns and Blaise Smith. There is sculpture by John Behan, F.E. McWilliam, Patrick O’Reilly, Rowan Gillespie and Orla de Bri.
Friday Fare by Nano Reid is from 1945 and was exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 1950. One of her best known works it is estimated at €24,000-€36,000. There will be a pre-sale exhibition at Sotheby’s on New Bond St. in London from November 9-14.
Nano Reid – Friday Fare, 1945