Lot 51: Edward McGuire (Irish, 1932-1986) Owl 2 86.5 x 61 cm. (34 x 24 in.)

Owl 2
signed and dated 'EDWARD/McGUIRE.72' (lower right), further signed and inscribed '"Owl 2"/Edward McGuire' (on a label attached to the frame)
oil on canvas
86.5 x 61 cm. (34 x 24 in.)

PROVENANCE:
With The Dawson Gallery, Dublin
Private Collection, Dublin

The Irish portraitist, still-life artist and bird painter Edward McGuire was born in Dublin and his paintings were widely exhibited during his lifetime.

He used a laboriously meticulous painting technique which led to the completion of only about six works of art a year. McGuire's keen interest in bird-painting stemmed from the association in his youth with a taxidermist at the Natural History Museum in Dublin. McGuire purchased three stuffed specimens from Mr Williams, starting a bird collection whose members he painted repeatedly in intricate detail throughout his career.

His work is included in the collections of the Ulster Museum, Belfast; the National Gallery of Ireland; the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery of Modern Art in Dublin; The National Museum; Trinity College Dublin; University College Dublin; University College Cork; PJ Carroll and Co., Dublin City University, Dublin Writers Museum and the Irish Museum of Modern Art.