Lot 5: Seamus Murphy RHA (1907-1975) Mary Anne - The

Seamus Murphy RHA (1907-1975) Mary Anne - The Onion Seller (1937) Bronze, 91cm high (35.8" high) Signed and inscribed with title on base Provenance: From the Estate of the late Charlie Hennessy, Cork. Literature: "Seamus Murphy - Sculptor" Catalogue Raisonne number 411, p.274. A copy of this book accompanies this lot. Seamus Murphy, born near Mallow Co. Cork, began his studies at the Crawford School of Art before being apprenticed to a stone-carver where he specialised in architectural carving, and continued to take night classes at the Crawford. In 1932 Murphy travelled to Paris to study at the Academie Colarossi, having won the Gibson Bequest Scholarship the previous year. On his return to Cork in 1934 Murphy set up his own studio in Blackpool. His long association with the RHA began in 1935 when he exhibited for the first time and continued to do so regularly throughout his career. He was elected a full member of the academy in 1954, was appointed Professor of Sculpture in 1964 and in 1973 became a membe of the Arts Council. Well known for his religious sculptures, memorials and headstones, as well as busts of celebrated political and literary figures and artists, Murphy's work was included in ROSC '75 (Cork) in the year of his death, following which two major retrospectives have been mounted - one by the Crawford Gallery in Cork and Douglas Hyde Gallery in 1982, and another in 2007 at the Crawford. Murphy created the plaster version of Mary Anne in 1937. Two bronze versions were cast later, this being one, the other was presented to the Peace Park on Grand Parade, Cork in 1985 where it has remained since.