ARTIST: Arthur David MacCormick (British, Ireland, 1860 - 1943)
NAME: Consulting the Oracle
MEDIUM: oil on canvas
CONDITION: Normal wear along edges. Minor craquelure. Minor inpainting along edges.
SIGHT SIZE: 22 x 30 inches / 55 x 76 cm
FRAME SIZE: unframed (In-House framing available)
SIGNATURE: lower right
PROVENANCE: Auctioneer Sotheby's, Date 1988-12-09, Lot 371
NAME VARIANTS: Arthur David MacCormick
CATEGORY: antique vintage painting
AD: ART CONSIGNMENTS WANTED. CONTACT US
SKU#: 121598
US Shipping $90 + insurance.

BIOGRAPHY:
McCormick was born in Coleraine and studied at the Government School of Design, Belfast. He later traveled to London working with the Illustrated London News among other publications. In 1889, from Trafalgar Studios, McCormick exhibited for the first time with the Royal Academy, London. This would be the beginning of a 30-year relationship with the institution.Snoddy records the artist's address from 1895 as 58 Queen's Road, St. John's Wood; the artist resided at this address for over 40 years. The theme of pirates began to appear in the oeuvre at the turn of the century and the RA index of exhibitors lists two such works shown with them in 1903 and 1904. Among the artist's best-known commissions was the iconic sailor's head and shoulders on the cigarette packets for tobacco manufacturers, John Player & Son in 1927. His works can be found in the Victoria & Albert Museum, Imperial War Museum and the Borough Council, Coleraine among others.