John Schwatschke (Irish), Oil On Canvas,
Morning Rush, Cork

John Schwatschke (Irish b.1943), 'Morning Rush, Cork', oil on canvas, Signed and inscribed verso. 

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Born to Austro-Irish parents, John Schwatschke is most widely known for his inventive caricature portraits. 

In Waterford the artist lived in Corballymore, Dunmore East and was a pupil of Bishop Foy School, later attending The King’s Hospital Dublin. He went on to study art and architecture in Dublin & Munich, and was a project manager on two large construction projects in Jeddah, working for the King’s banker there.

 

In 1970-79 the artist had his studio in Provence at Mougins, where he rented an old mill house and was a neighbour of Pablo Picasso. It was here that some 200 of the artist’s works were to be exhibited in the newly formed Le Musée Schwatschke. However, government restrictions held up the project and it was instead transferred to Ireland and built near the artist’s home at Carlow, opened 1976 by The Austrian Ambassador with Suzanne McDougald (closed 1994).

His work has been sold in the most prestigious auction houses, both nationally and internationally and can be found in numerous galleries and collections. As a portrait painter to Heads of State and film stars, he has received numerous commissions and can claim Eamonn de Valera, Ingrid Bergman, Cyril Cusack and HRH Prince Philip amongst his sitters.