1964 Mid century modernist oil on board by Irish artist Jack Pakenham RUA

From our own collection, we offer this superb, 1964, oil on board composition, entitled ‘Head I’ by Dublin-born artist and published poet, Jack Pakenham, RUA.
Jack was born in Dublin and graduated in 1959 from Queen’s University, Belfast, in French, Spanish and philosophy. After writing and painting on lbiza and then living in Dorset, 1959–60, he taught English in Ashfield Boy’s School in Belfast from 1961-90, where he settled and began painting full-time. Pakenham published several collections of poetry, including The Last Day, 1980. He won a number of Arts Council of Northern Ireland awards, gained the RUA’s Conor Prize in 1985 and its Silver Medal in 1986. In 1987 he was elected to the RUA as an academician.
Renowned for his later ‘Belfast Series’ which was heavily influenced by the indiscriminate horror of ‘The Troubles’, this outstanding painting is beautifully composed with an extensive, yet subtle colour palette and clear inspiration of one of Jack’s early influences, Francis Bacon.
This sublime oil is on Daler Board and is in superb condition. It is mounted in its original frame and measures cm by cm. The reverse retains the label of the Bell Gallery of Alfred Street, Belfast, who framed Jack’s work. It has the Daler label and the remnants of two, previous exhibition labels with the titles ‘Floating Shapes’ and ‘Early Morning’ (remainder obscured), suggesting that this board had been reused on at least two occasions. The title ‘Heads 1’ has been scored through and replaced by ‘Portrait 2’. Dated ‘64’ to the reverse and this was confirmed by Jack in an email. 50 x 39.5cm
Collection or courier at cost throughout Ireland