Contemporary art at St Paul's Cathedral: new commission by Hughie O'Donoghue RA
Friday 27 July 2018 6 - 7.30pm
Meet at the North Crypt door of the Cathedral, ready for entry at 6pm.
£30
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RA Friends are invited personally by the Dean of Chapter for a private evening visit to the crypt of St Paul’s Cathedral, to view the cathedral’s newest contemporary art commission painted by Hughie O’Donoghue RA.
On this visit we are privileged to be joined by the artist Hughie O’Donoghue RA and the Dean of Chapter, the Very Reverend Dr David Ison, who oversees the cathedral’s commissioning of contemporary artworks on display.
O’Donoghue’s artwork has been commissioned by the ISKB, the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor Council for St Martin’s Chapel in the crypt of St Paul’s. The painting looks at the theme of chivalry and reflects the chivalric story of St Martin giving his cloak to a destitute beggar. It will be prominently displayed above the altar with a frame that matches the oak panelling in the chapel.
Hughie O’Donoghue RA was born in England but lived and worked for many years in County Kilkenny, Ireland. He was awarded a master’s degree in fine art from Goldsmiths in 1982, was Artist in Residence at the National Gallery in the mid-1980s and is a Royal Academician.
He says of this commission: “The challenge, as I see it, is to make a painting of St Martin and the Beggar which is compelling and beautiful but essentially relevant and believable in the ‘here and now’.”
Following a viewing of the work in St Martin’s Chapel, there will be a drinks reception and an opportunity to hear the Dean of Chapter talk about his role in the commissioning of contemporary artworks for St Paul’s. Hughie O’Donoghue will give a personal insight into the process of creating the artwork.
This is a rare opportunity to meet the Dean of Chapter at St Paul’s Cathedral and to hear directly from him about their contemporary art programme and to meet one of the artists invited to create a work for this iconic building.