O’REILLYS Fine Jewellery, Watches & Silver Auction Starting 22nd February 2023 at 12pm

10 S P O T L I G H T O N A N A R T I S T John Schwatschke John Schwatschke is a contemporary Irish ar tist born to Austro-Irish parents in 1943. His father, Franz Schwatschke, moved to Carlow in 1926 after being headhunted from the Czech Republic to work at a sugar factory as an engineer.The junior Schwatschke was educated at The King’s Hospital school, after which he pursued his original career ambitions as a concer t pianist. He played piano professionally for an audience on three occasions in 1970, 1971, and 1972. It was not long however before a close friend and his first patron, President Eamonn de Valera, persuaded him to give up music and put his sole focus into producing ar t. Schwatschke had studied art in the National College of Art as well as studying at the National Portrait Gallery in London - these serious interests in studying art as well as his skill are more than likely what caused de Valera to encourage him to “do one thing and do it well”. His style of painting varied through the years, initially focusing on academic style por traiture, moving towards a cubist/construction style influenced by the archives he was shown by Picasso’s son, and most notably he paints in the style of caricature, satirising Irish society and its citizens. In this month’s auction we have two works by Schwatschke that embody the societal satire and vibrant characters of his signature style. Lot 545 LIVE AUCTION OF FINE JEWELLERY, WATCHES, SILVER & COINS • WEDNESDAY, 22nd FEB 2023 AT 12PM