Iconic sculpture has tale to tell

The Pikeman, by Jerome Connor, is for sale at Adam’s.

The Pikeman by Jerome Connor, which features at Adam’s sale of important Irish art in Dublin next Tuesday at 6pm, was designed for an unrealised 1798 memorial for Denny St. in Tralee.

Estimated at €15,000 to €25,000 it was created to replace a stone figure destroyed by British Forces during the War of Independence. Adams says it is arguably the most iconic piece in the sale, regarded by many as one of the most important pieces of sculpture produced in Ireland in the first half of the 20th century.

Jerome Connor (1874-1943) was born near Annascaul, Co Kerry and the family emigrated to America when he was 13. However, he returned to Ireland in 1925 to work on a commission for the Lusitania Memorial and various other commissions followed.

Richard Thomas Moynan’s ‘Travelling Show’, (1892), featured in the Crawford Gallery’s ‘Whipping the Herring’ exhibition in 2006. It is estimated at €150,000-250,000. The auction features work by Jack Yeats, Paul Henry, Nathanial Hone, Sean O’Sullivan, James Humbert Craig, Lady Kate Dobbin, Walter Osborne, John Lavery, George Campbell, William Leech, Aloysius O’Kelly, William Scott, Samuel Taylor, and numerous other artists.

It is on view at St. Stephen’s Green from 2pm to 5pm tomorrow, from 10am to 5pm on Monday and from 10am to 4pm on Tuesday.