National Gallery of Ireland purchases John McCormack portrait

The National Gallery of Ireland last week purchased the Sir William Orpen portrait of Athlone"s most famous son Count John McCormack. The stellar portrait was auctioned at Christie"s in London last Friday, May 8, as part of the Irish Sporting and Art Sale. The National Gallery purchased the portrait for €404,600, somewhat less than the estimate, as the auction house had anticipated the portrait would fetch in the region of €452,000 to €679,000. The portrait, dated 1923, has been acquired for the Gallery"s National Portrait Collection and is expected to go on display this summer. International Director of Irish Art at Christie"s Bernard Williams said: 'We are pleased to confirm that during the auction, the National Gallery of Ireland made an offer to acquire the portrait of Count John McCormack by Sir William Orpen. This offer was accepted by the vendor, who is thrilled that this important work has found a new home with such a revered institution. The portrait has drawn great admiration at our previews in Dublin and London and Christie"s are pleased to have facilitated this acquisition which enables the painting to remain in Ireland and be enjoyed by the public.' Prior to being auctioned last week the portrait had been passed to Count John McCormack"s grandson, also Count John McCormack. Before the auction he said: 'My grandfather was an extraordinary man: loved and remembered by many. His phenomenal musical talent brought tremendous pleasure and pride not only to our family, but to his birthplace, Ireland and of course one of his loved homes: America. In all the years that I have lived with this exceptional portrait by the great Sir William Orpen I have never ceased to be fascinated and amazed at the way that the artist captured the essence of my grandfather: the singer, the man, the father and the husband. It is now time for this work to give friendship and pleasure to a new home. My most personal memories and mementos of my grandfather will, of course, always remain close to my heart.' Having been exhibited at the Royal Academy, London, in 1924; the Simthsonian Institute, Washington, in 1971; the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, in 1978 and both the Imperial War Museum, London and National Gallery of Ireland in 2005, this wonderful portrait is viewed not only as providing an insight into the artist and the subject, but the culture and society of the age when it was executed. Sir Orpen is famed for his portraits of Edward, Prince of Wales and Winston Churchill. The Dublin-born artist spent most of his working life in England and became one of the most fashionable and most successful portrait aritsts, earning extraordinary sums of money. He was knighted in 1918 for his services as a war artist. One of Athlone"s favourite sons John McCormack"s remarkable voice was first recognised when a pupil at the Marist Brothers School, at Summerhill College, Sligo, and as a chorister and soloist in the Pro Cathedral choir in Dublin. In 1903 he won a gold medal at Feis Ceoil, the Irish Music Festival in Dublin, and funds were raised to take him to Milan for voice training with Vincenzo Sabatini. In 1907 he made his debut at Covent Garden in Cavalleria Rusticana and his fame immediately spread to North America and Australia, where he was the star of Dame Nellie Melba"s Grand Opera Season in 1911. McCormack"s operatic career lasted twelve years, ending the year that this work was executed, 1924. He then went on to be a solo artist and was signed to the Victor Talking Machine Company, as a recording artist. Fully embracing the new medium, McCormack"s popular, sentimental songs brought him wealth and fame, enabling him to purchase apartments in New York and London. In 1927, he rediscovered his Irish roots and leased Moore Abbey at Monasterevan, Co Kildare, from Lord Drogheda of the Ponsonby Moore family.