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THE COLLECTION OF SHIRLEY AND TONY IRVING
Shirley and Tony Irving arrived in Lebanon mid-1955 and lived there continuously until late 1978. Tony Irving (architect and designer) together with several Lebanese architects and engineers formed a group practice based in Beirut, to provide design and supervision services for projects throughout the Middle East. The earliest work of the group was predominantly in Kuwait and later in Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Teheran and eventually Saudi Arabia.
Shirley Irving was a member of a local painting group and audited classes at the Art Department of American University of Beirut (AUB) and for several years Tony Irving was a part-time tutor at the Architectural School of Académie Libanaise des Beaux Arts. They were both regularly involved in designing costumes and stage settings for amateur and professional theatre (English and Arabic). However, it was not until the mid-1960s that the Irving's connection with the Arab Art World began in ernest.
A major American Bank commissioned Irving's group to carry out internal planning and design at their new Regional headquarters and invited Shirley Irving to select Arab paintings for purchase and hanging in the completed premises. This led to further similar projects and to her joining Gallery One Beirut, to help set-up joint and solo exhibitions of artists' work from various countries, as well as from Lebanon. These included Syria, Iraq, Kuwait and Egypt, among others. On behalf of Gallery One she also made personal visits to Iraq and Egypt, met artists there, and selected works for joint exhibitions in Beirut. In the early 70s, while visiting Iran, Shirley Irving was invited to meet local artists and select works for purchase and hanging in a large, central, banking building in Tehran (designed by Tony Irving's group). This was completed in 1974.
As Shirley and Tony Irving developed more and more direct contact with artists and galleries it became inevitable that they would purchase occasional works and build up a collection chosen entirely on the basis of personal taste. Of the works included in this auction, the Hrair (lot from 164) came from one of his earliest exhibitions; the Khalil Zgaib (lot 165) was bought direct from the painter in the early 70s; and the two Dia Azzawis (lot 166 and 167) again from the artist, whom Shirley Irving first met during her Iraq visit.
PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF SHIRLEY AND TONY IRVING
Hrair (Lebanese, b. 1946)
Untitled
細節
Hrair (Lebanese, b. 1946)
Untitled
signed 'HRAIR' (upper left)
oil on board
20 x 11in. (51 x 28cm.)
Painted circa early 1960s
Untitled
signed 'HRAIR' (upper left)
oil on board
20 x 11in. (51 x 28cm.)
Painted circa early 1960s
來源
Acquired directly from the artist by the present owners.