Adam's Important Irish Art Wednesday May 30th 2018

88 67 RORY BRESLIN (B.1963) Mask of the Atlantic Bronze, 88.5cm high x 41.5 wide (35 x 16”) Number 1 from an edition of 3 The only Ocean among the Irish river heads, the Mask of the Atlantic is a slightly larger than life-size rendition of Edward Smyth’s River-God keystone depiction on the North-Eastern façade of Dublin’s Custom House. Intertwined with the Atlantic’s beard and hair, redolent of the undulating wave surges and breakers of the ocean, are dolphins and other sea creatures vigorously modelled with a considerable baroque energy. The resolute and classical visage has above it a diadem of pearls and many maritime references. Poseidon’s trident supports a crescent moon, symbol of the lunar influence on the tides. Navigational references complete the symmetry... to the left a binnacle with the word ‘Atlantic’ inscribed and to the right a compass card which can also be construed as a solar symbol with rays. € 5,000 - 7,000