Sean Scully (b.1945) – Robe (2002). UPDATE: THIS MADE 30,000 AT HAMMER
This watercolour over pencil by Sean Scully comes up as lot 40 at the James Adam sale of Important Irish Art on September 24. The estimate is €30,000-€50,000. The initial inspiration for the robe series was the Book of Durrow at Trinity College, Dublin, dated to the latter half of the 7th Century. Scully was taken with a page featuring a remarkable representation of St Matthew the Evangelist. The saint is attired in a lavish robe with a flatly rendered geometric chequerboard pattern, incorporating diagonal panels. It’s so striking it appears anachronistic, as though an abstract composition has been transported back through time. Viewing for the auction gets underway in Dublin on September 19 and the catalogue is online.
