Many of Orpen's most important works are here: his masterly conversation piece, "Homage to Manet" (1909), being perhaps the most notable. But the surprises, and the sense at last of seeing the whole man, are what count.
Imperial War Museum, London SE1, to May 2, then to the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin.
For the full story - click the title
Irish Art
Snippets of interest to lovers of Art. News about Irish Artists or otherwise. The odd rant...
Saturday
Artist and Soldier
William Orpen strides back on stage to surprise and delight us - this time at the Imperial War Museum. He was an official war artist, but sensibly the scope of the exhibition has been extended to embrace his whole career.
Orpen died in 1931 at the age of only 53, by which time he was Sir William Orpen, pillar of the Royal Academy, and as successful as any society portrait-painter of his time. His technical command is impressive. Perhaps our puritanical modernist distrust of that facility accounts for his subsequent neglect. His female nudes are deliciously frank in their robust sensuality.
Many of Orpen's most important works are here: his masterly conversation piece, "Homage to Manet" (1909), being perhaps the most notable. But the surprises, and the sense at last of seeing the whole man, are what count.
Imperial War Museum, London SE1, to May 2, then to the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin.
For the full story - click the title
Irish Art
Many of Orpen's most important works are here: his masterly conversation piece, "Homage to Manet" (1909), being perhaps the most notable. But the surprises, and the sense at last of seeing the whole man, are what count.
Imperial War Museum, London SE1, to May 2, then to the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin.
For the full story - click the title
Irish Art
