A PORTRAIT of the internationally renowned Irish tenor Count John McCormack is expected to fetch in excess of €500,000 when it comes up for auction in England later this year.
The large 1923 work by Sir William Orpen, a Dublin-born painter known for his portraits of Edward Prince of Wales and Winston Churchill, has been passed down through generations of the late opera singer’s family.
It will lead the Irish and Sporting Art Sale at Christie’s of London on May 8th, with an estimate of £400,000-£600,000 (€456,929- €685,320).
“This painting is a joy,” said Bernard Williams, Christie’s international director of Irish art. “In my opinion, this work, of sterling provenance, is one of the best paintings by the artist to come to the market in many years, and would be an important highlight in any serious collection of Irish art.”
Born in 1884, McCormack’s vocal talents were first noticed while he was a pupil at the Marist Brothers School in Athlone.
In 1903, he won a gold medal at the Feis Ceoil, before being sent to Milan for vocal training. Between 1912 and 1924, he carved a reputation as one of the world’s finest opera singers and his fame spread as far afield as North America and Australia. He became a successful recording artist and was internationally respected for his versions of popular sentimental songs.
Count McCormack died in 1945. A bronze statue of him has been erected in the Iveagh Gardens, next to the National Concert Hall in Dublin. The current owner of the painting, his grandson – also Count John McCormack – said the portrait was a cherished heirloom, but that it was time it brought pleasure to a new home.
“I have never ceased to be fascinated and amazed at the way that the artist captured the essence of my grandfather,” he said.
