Literary greats
Susana Ragel
Portraits by
Mark McFadden
Literary greats at The Residence Members Club Art Gallery From 25th February till 25th April 2015
Portraits by
Mark McFadden
When Mark first asked me to view his first phase of work, like any serious collector, I was somewhat sceptical as to the quality of work one could expect from a man who had only recently married brushes and canvas for the first time . I was wrong. Mark has a raw depth as a portrait artist that draws you into his troubled subjects, like a psychiatrist, perched on the edge of his chair, ready to pose the ultimate question to drain his patients troubles and open up their hearts. As an Artist, Mark leaves us wanting to know more and I find myself in a period of discovery as my eyes penetrate the layers of paint and sweat, to try and understand the lovers and the demons that haunt the canvas. I can stand for hours looking at one of Mark’s paintings and know that although tiring, it is something I could never become tired of! I’m convinced Mark’s work has much longevity and he has only scratched the surface off the gifted artist that lies beneath, but if his first exhibition is a testament to his future potential, we will experience some magnificent portraiture to come. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to purchase some of his early work and I’m sure the paintings will be a valuable addition to our family collection.
Ashley Levett, Collector The Levett Family Trust own works by Matisse, Degas, Picasso, Henry Moore, Raul Dufy, Igor Tcholaria and Jack Vettriano amongst others.
“I first started painting literary figures when reading Robert Graves’ “Goodbye to all that”, his beautifully written account of his harrowing experience serving the full term of World War One. I then moved onto one of my favourite authors, Oscar Wilde, and it all seemed to follow on quite naturally from there. It made sense to do Irish literary figures, which are, if not consciously then subliminally ingrained within us from our conception. I am further inspired by reading their material which seems to draw me deeper into their minds and use this insight, in the hope of making my impressions and portrayals all the more profound.” Mark McFadden - Artist
George Bernard Shaw 160cm x 130cm
Oscar Wilde 200cm x 150cm
James Joyce
100cm x 100cm
Colm Tolbin 130cm x 97cm
Brendan Behan and Lucian freud 130cm x160cm
Brendan Behan 73cm x 60cm
Seamus Heaney 100cm x 81cm
W.B. Yeats
130cm x 97cm
John McGahern 100cm x 81cm
Frank McGuinness 100cm x 81cm
Brian Friel
100cm x 100cm
Samuel Beckett 100cm x 100cm
Patrick Kavanagh 130cm x 97cm
John Banville 130cm x 97cm
The Residence