Lot

76

* JOHN BELLANY CBE RA HRSA (SCOTTISH 1942 - 2013), THE PORTRAIT OF ALBERT IRVIN RA

In The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction

This auction is live! You need to be registered and approved to bid at this auction.
You have been outbid. For the best chance of winning, increase your maximum bid.
Your bid or registration is pending approval with the auctioneer. Please check your email account for more details.
Unfortunately, your registration has been declined by the auctioneer. You can contact the auctioneer on +44 (0)141 810 2880 for more information.
You are the current highest bidder! To be sure to win, log in for the live auction broadcast on or increase your max bid.
Leave a bid now! Your registration has been successful.
Sorry, bidding has ended on this item. We have thousands of new lots everyday, start a new search.
Bidding on this auction has not started. Please register now so you are approved to bid when auction starts.
1/2
* JOHN BELLANY CBE RA HRSA (SCOTTISH 1942 - 2013), THE PORTRAIT OF ALBERT IRVIN RA - Image 1 of 2
* JOHN BELLANY CBE RA HRSA (SCOTTISH 1942 - 2013), THE PORTRAIT OF ALBERT IRVIN RA - Image 2 of 2
* JOHN BELLANY CBE RA HRSA (SCOTTISH 1942 - 2013), THE PORTRAIT OF ALBERT IRVIN RA - Image 1 of 2
* JOHN BELLANY CBE RA HRSA (SCOTTISH 1942 - 2013), THE PORTRAIT OF ALBERT IRVIN RA - Image 2 of 2
Interested in the price of this lot?
Subscribe to the price guide
Glasgow
* JOHN BELLANY CBE RA HRSA (SCOTTISH 1942 - 2013), THE PORTRAIT OF ALBERT IRVIN RA oil on canvas, signed and titled, dated 1987 verso framed image size 151cm x 121cm, overall size 170cm x 137cm Note 1: From 1973 to 1978 Bellany was head of the Faculty of Painting at Croydon College of Art, where his colleagues included David Royle, Denis Bowen, Barry Martin and Mel Gordon. It was at this time that he became a close friend of the abstract-expressionist painter Albert Irvin OBE RA. They had first met at the RCA and Irvin selected his "Three Fishermen" for a London Group exhibition. Bellany invited Irvin to teach at Croydon on a part-time basis, a compliment later returned when Bellany left Croydon and Irvin found him a job at Goldsmiths College of Art. Bellany was drinking heavily at this time and as Albert Irvin later commented "To go out with John meant you were going to lose two days of your life". Bellany's 1988 liver transplant started early in the morning of 30th April - the day before "May Day", the seafarers distress call. An irony not lost on him. Remarkably, he was deemed well enough to receive visitors by 12 May and the first were Bert and Betty Irvin. Irvin wrote: John was in his single room in Ward C9 with balloons tied to his bedhead. Watercolours and drawings that he's done since he's been here were on the walls as was the photograph of him and Helen by Lord Snowdon and several of his postcards.The rest were in a box under his bed. He looked yellow and his eyes were very yellow, as Helen had warned us. He was magnificent. His will to survive and his optimism were indomitable. His sense of humour was superbly and ridiculously intact, as when he insited that we have photographs taken with him with his pyjamas open & his operation and pipes, and bottles and bags on display". Albert Irvin was known as "Uncle Bert" to the Bellany family. Note 2: Collector demand has never been higher for the work of John Bellany and numerous examples have been sold in recent months by both McTear's and others at ever more impressive prices. In The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction of 29th May 2022 "The Finnon Smoker" by Bellany sold for £80,000 (hammer) and in the same sale, "Bass Rock Fable" (a 76 x 61cm unframed oil) sold for £12,000 (hammer). In our 21st August 2022 auction, lot 137 "The Newspaper Hat" (a 61 x 51cm oil) sold for £9500 (hammer). "Like-for-like" auction prices for original paintings are usually difficullt to assess, but in The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction of April 2023, two Bellany paintings which had been acquired in our auctions in September and November 2014 were consigned for sale by the same owner. The original 2014 selling prices were £1800 and £4000 and the same paintings sold in April for £3800 and £7000 (all hammer prices). This equates to a growth in value of 86.2% in fewer than nine years. In The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction of 25th May 2023, lot 282, "Restless Wave" a 90 x 90cm oil (by Bellany) sold for £9000 (hammer) and in our auction of 9th November, lot 92, "Harbour" a 90 x 120cm oil by Bellany sold for £11000 (hammer).
* JOHN BELLANY CBE RA HRSA (SCOTTISH 1942 - 2013), THE PORTRAIT OF ALBERT IRVIN RA oil on canvas, signed and titled, dated 1987 verso framed image size 151cm x 121cm, overall size 170cm x 137cm Note 1: From 1973 to 1978 Bellany was head of the Faculty of Painting at Croydon College of Art, where his colleagues included David Royle, Denis Bowen, Barry Martin and Mel Gordon. It was at this time that he became a close friend of the abstract-expressionist painter Albert Irvin OBE RA. They had first met at the RCA and Irvin selected his "Three Fishermen" for a London Group exhibition. Bellany invited Irvin to teach at Croydon on a part-time basis, a compliment later returned when Bellany left Croydon and Irvin found him a job at Goldsmiths College of Art. Bellany was drinking heavily at this time and as Albert Irvin later commented "To go out with John meant you were going to lose two days of your life". Bellany's 1988 liver transplant started early in the morning of 30th April - the day before "May Day", the seafarers distress call. An irony not lost on him. Remarkably, he was deemed well enough to receive visitors by 12 May and the first were Bert and Betty Irvin. Irvin wrote: John was in his single room in Ward C9 with balloons tied to his bedhead. Watercolours and drawings that he's done since he's been here were on the walls as was the photograph of him and Helen by Lord Snowdon and several of his postcards.The rest were in a box under his bed. He looked yellow and his eyes were very yellow, as Helen had warned us. He was magnificent. His will to survive and his optimism were indomitable. His sense of humour was superbly and ridiculously intact, as when he insited that we have photographs taken with him with his pyjamas open & his operation and pipes, and bottles and bags on display". Albert Irvin was known as "Uncle Bert" to the Bellany family. Note 2: Collector demand has never been higher for the work of John Bellany and numerous examples have been sold in recent months by both McTear's and others at ever more impressive prices. In The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction of 29th May 2022 "The Finnon Smoker" by Bellany sold for £80,000 (hammer) and in the same sale, "Bass Rock Fable" (a 76 x 61cm unframed oil) sold for £12,000 (hammer). In our 21st August 2022 auction, lot 137 "The Newspaper Hat" (a 61 x 51cm oil) sold for £9500 (hammer). "Like-for-like" auction prices for original paintings are usually difficullt to assess, but in The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction of April 2023, two Bellany paintings which had been acquired in our auctions in September and November 2014 were consigned for sale by the same owner. The original 2014 selling prices were £1800 and £4000 and the same paintings sold in April for £3800 and £7000 (all hammer prices). This equates to a growth in value of 86.2% in fewer than nine years. In The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction of 25th May 2023, lot 282, "Restless Wave" a 90 x 90cm oil (by Bellany) sold for £9000 (hammer) and in our auction of 9th November, lot 92, "Harbour" a 90 x 120cm oil by Bellany sold for £11000 (hammer).

The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction

Sale Date(s)
Venue Address
Meiklewood Gate
Meiklewood Road
Glasgow
G51 4EU
United Kingdom

General delivery information available from the auctioneer

McTear's are pleased to offer a global packing and shipping service through the experts at Auction Logistics from Mail Boxes Etc. If you are using the-saleroom.com bidding platform, the shipping prices for most lots in our Specialist Sales are on the-saleroom.com lot detail pages in advance of the sale day. the-saleroom.com buyers can purchase shipping conveniently online by following the payment link received by email after the sale. 
Auction Logistics from Mail Boxes Etc. offer a complete collect, pack and ship service to most global destinations and include up to £150 Inclusive Cover protection per lot, with the option to upgrade the cover to the full amount paid for the item/s*.
Auction Logistics (Mailboxes) 

E: auctionlogisticsenquiries@mbe.uk
T: 0871 221 1233

“Calls charged at £0.13 per minute from UK landlines and mobiles plus your phone company's access charge”
Buyers can instruct a packer and shipper of their choice. Other options available are:

Collin Moran & Son Ltd
collin@collinmoranandson.co.uk
0141 849 1947


Aardvark Art Services Ltd (Specialist Painting Couriers)

E: info@aardvarkartservices.com

T: 01253 794673

Important Information

Viewing times:

Tuesday 7th - 9am-5pm
Wednesday 8th - 9am-5pm
Thursday 9th - 9am-10am


Please Note: McTear’s reserve the right to charge the card you used to register for live bidding within 24 hours of the auction finishing unless other arrangements are agreed with McTear’s prior to the sale. 

Buyer`s Premium 24% + VAT

Lots purchased online with the-saleroom.com will attract an additional charge for this service in the sum of 4.95% of the hammer price plus VAT at the rate imposed

For purchases we recommend packing and shipping companies such as:

Collin Moran & Son Ltd
collin@collinmoranandson.co.uk
0141 849 1947

Mailboxes 
info@mbewoodlandsroad.co.uk
0141 332 6555
admin@mbeshawlands.co.uk
0141 649 6777

Aardvark Art Services Ltd 
info@aardvarkartservices.com
01253 794673

Alban Shipping
info@albanshipping.co.uk
01582 493 099

Terms & Conditions

 

To view McTear's Terms of Business click here.

To view McTear's privacy policy click here.

See Full Terms And Conditions