Adams
Lot 49
John McBurney (1877-1917) Self-portrait Oil on canvas, 43.5 x 34cm (17 x 13.5)W. Rodman & Co. stamp versoProvenance: The artist; probably bequeathed to the artist's friend, Frederick McCann of Belfast (later annotation verso); the Bell Gallery, Belfast, circa 1965 (stretcher rail stamped with '3, Alfred Street' address); and the private collection of the late Gilbert Telfer of Edinburgh, Scotland.Born in Belfast, McBurney attended night classes at the Government School of Design in London while taking an apprenticeship as a damask designer. Awarded a scholarship to study art in South Kensington. Upon his return to Belfast, he became involved with the Belfast Art Society, the Ulster Literary Theatre, and was President of the Ulster Arts Club. McBurney was a close friend of Irish novelist, Forrest Reid (1875-1947). Reid described McBurney as a man of 'extraordinary courage and personal charm...[whose character] comprised of a curious blend of melancholy and gaiety.'[1] Of their first meeting, Reid recollected taking a dislike to McBurney, 'because he told me an indecent story-a thing I detest. Long afterwards, when we were intimate friends, I mentioned this, whereupon he immediately told me another-but that was to be expected.'[1] McBurney's lack of artistic prolificacy was due to poor physical strength as a result of illness. He died of tuberculosis in 1917. Works by McBurney are held at the Ulster Museum, Belfast.1] F. Reid, Private Road (London: Faber and Faber, 1940)
