Lot 61 - Patric Coogan, 'LIVING ROOM I'
Visualise On Your Wall
Bidding on this item has ended.
Result:
€230
Bid History
Bidding Extended
This auction is viewable online only - lots are NOT available to view in person
Artist:
Patric Coogan
Title:
'LIVING ROOM I'
Size (unframed):
H 12" x W 18" (H 30.5cm x W 45.5cm)
Size (framed):
H 15" x W 22" (H 38cm x W 56cm)
Medium:
OIL ON BOARD
Signature:
SIGNED
Framed:
YES
Condition:
GOOD CONDITION
- Auction Details
- Buyer's Guide
- Payment
- Collection & Delivery
- Terms and Conditions
Patric Coogan
1935-2025
Painter
The work of Patric Coogan is a fascinating rediscovery of a talented draughtsman and realist painter. A grainer's son born in Dunlewey Street off the Falls Road in 1935, Coogan's oeuvre represents a personal response by a Belfast artist living through the troubles. His paintings are a rarity to come across and despite a limited number of exhibitions, his output of work has not been small. On the rare occasion of exhibiting at The Cavehill Gallery in 1987, Ciaran McKeown described Coogan's hesitancy to even title, sign and frame his work affirming to his reclusive nature as an artist. Many will be familiar with the Coogan painting illustrated on the back cover of Mike Catto's 'Art in Ulster: 2', but this may be the extent of their awareness regarding his work.
Coogan attended the Ulster College of Art and Design as a mature student during which Charles Oakley was a senior lecturer. Oakley's representational studies of derelict Irish cottages for surrealist ends parallels Coogan's use of Belfast streets to capture emotion and provoke contemplation. Coogan's most prevalent artistic education came from meeting John Luke during the 1960s. It was Luke's The Rehearsal exhibited at the Belfast Museum and Art Gallery which made a striking impression on Coogan. As an eager student, Coogan and Luke became close friends, with the artist embodying many of Luke's teachings. This comparison was affirmed by John Hewitt after viewing an exhibition of Coogan at the Ulster Arts Club. Hewitt declared 'Very good. He's very good indeed. Of course he was influenced by John Luke. He's kind of Buddhist, like Luke.'
There is not a particularly explicit reflection of the troubles in Coogan's work, but it is present through motifs, symbols and personally relevant associations, like figures hidden in shadows, a cat passing by, or abandoned cardboard boxes. The symbol of a discarded rubbish bag appears across Coogan's paintings. Mike Catto described its significance: 'That polythene bag in the work reproduced may just be a bag full of rubbish; it might be a bomb or even the remains of a body. Every supposition, every connotation is valid but Coogan gives us no clue to work on. Emotion is not supressed completely but it is held in check.' Some scenes suggest the unsettling aftermath of conflict with abandoned streets and derelict houses, yet others convey simple daily life outside green grocers with bustling figures completing daily errands.
Still life studies are testament to Coogan's ability to skilfully create interesting compositions. Playing with mirror reflections and complex shadows reflects a realist history from Renaissance paintings, pushing the boundaries of a composition in relation to the viewer. Similarly, his portraits and nude studies show the foundational techniques for capturing human experience and emotion which translate to his later street scenes.
Throughout the late twentieth century, it was shocking to some critics that artists continued to cling to the representational and figurative when abstract expressionist was becoming academic doctrine. To paint traditional subjects in a realist style, in fact, became something new and unexpected. This was not following the concerns of academia, but in Coogan's instance, producing recognisable local scenes for local people. By experiencing first-hand the transformation of Belfast and depicting the daily life of working-class areas during the Troubles, Coogan continued in the tradition of the French realists like Courbet, to the more local William Conor, in depicting real subjects with empathy and humanity.
Adams Blackrock, November 2025
1935-2025
Painter
The work of Patric Coogan is a fascinating rediscovery of a talented draughtsman and realist painter. A grainer's son born in Dunlewey Street off the Falls Road in 1935, Coogan's oeuvre represents a personal response by a Belfast artist living through the troubles. His paintings are a rarity to come across and despite a limited number of exhibitions, his output of work has not been small. On the rare occasion of exhibiting at The Cavehill Gallery in 1987, Ciaran McKeown described Coogan's hesitancy to even title, sign and frame his work affirming to his reclusive nature as an artist. Many will be familiar with the Coogan painting illustrated on the back cover of Mike Catto's 'Art in Ulster: 2', but this may be the extent of their awareness regarding his work.
Coogan attended the Ulster College of Art and Design as a mature student during which Charles Oakley was a senior lecturer. Oakley's representational studies of derelict Irish cottages for surrealist ends parallels Coogan's use of Belfast streets to capture emotion and provoke contemplation. Coogan's most prevalent artistic education came from meeting John Luke during the 1960s. It was Luke's The Rehearsal exhibited at the Belfast Museum and Art Gallery which made a striking impression on Coogan. As an eager student, Coogan and Luke became close friends, with the artist embodying many of Luke's teachings. This comparison was affirmed by John Hewitt after viewing an exhibition of Coogan at the Ulster Arts Club. Hewitt declared 'Very good. He's very good indeed. Of course he was influenced by John Luke. He's kind of Buddhist, like Luke.'
There is not a particularly explicit reflection of the troubles in Coogan's work, but it is present through motifs, symbols and personally relevant associations, like figures hidden in shadows, a cat passing by, or abandoned cardboard boxes. The symbol of a discarded rubbish bag appears across Coogan's paintings. Mike Catto described its significance: 'That polythene bag in the work reproduced may just be a bag full of rubbish; it might be a bomb or even the remains of a body. Every supposition, every connotation is valid but Coogan gives us no clue to work on. Emotion is not supressed completely but it is held in check.' Some scenes suggest the unsettling aftermath of conflict with abandoned streets and derelict houses, yet others convey simple daily life outside green grocers with bustling figures completing daily errands.
Still life studies are testament to Coogan's ability to skilfully create interesting compositions. Playing with mirror reflections and complex shadows reflects a realist history from Renaissance paintings, pushing the boundaries of a composition in relation to the viewer. Similarly, his portraits and nude studies show the foundational techniques for capturing human experience and emotion which translate to his later street scenes.
Throughout the late twentieth century, it was shocking to some critics that artists continued to cling to the representational and figurative when abstract expressionist was becoming academic doctrine. To paint traditional subjects in a realist style, in fact, became something new and unexpected. This was not following the concerns of academia, but in Coogan's instance, producing recognisable local scenes for local people. By experiencing first-hand the transformation of Belfast and depicting the daily life of working-class areas during the Troubles, Coogan continued in the tradition of the French realists like Courbet, to the more local William Conor, in depicting real subjects with empathy and humanity.
Adams Blackrock, November 2025
First Time Buyers
If you have not bought through our Adams Blackrock Online Auction before please read the following guide. Our Conditions of Sale may be accessed at any point and should be read in conjunction with this short guide.
What is an Online Auction?
An online auction is an automated online-only auction which takes place solely on our website, www.adamsblackrock.ie. The sale will commence at a designated time and date and will run for a specified number of days. The sale will end with every lot finishing at 20 second intervals up until the sales completion. (Please note: Each individual lot displays a unique end time.)
Sale Procedure
To bid on a lot you must register an Adams Blackrock account and login. Once logged in you are ready to place bids online at any time up until the noted end time of each lot. If your bid is accepted, you will be notified on the lot webpage that you are the current highest bidder. If you are outbid you will be notified by email and have the option to bid again and if you are successful with your bid, you will receive an invoice by email after the auction's completion.
Maximum Bid
You may leave a maximum bid which will instruct the software to bid on your behalf only as much as required for you to remain the highest bidder up until your limit. This means that you may be successful with a bid for less than your maximum bid, however you can also be outbid if someone enters a higher maximum bid. If you are outbid you will receive an outbid notification by email. Please note: Only you will know what your maximum bid is. If you enter a maximum bid amount that matches that of another bidder, precedence will be given to the bidder who placed the bid of that amount first and you will be asked to bid again.
Bidding Increments
Bidding increments will be as follows: 0-50 by €5, 50-500 by €10, 500-1000 by €20, 1000-5000 by €50, 5,000-10,000 by €100, 10,000-50,000 by €200, 50,000+ by €500. Bids are received in both EUR and GBP and, accordingly, increments may differ if a bid is received in GBP.
Anti-Snipe Feature
In designing this website, Adams Blackrock have employed over seventy five years' auctioneering experience to replicate events as closely as possible as they occur in the saleroom. If a bid is placed in the final minute of the auction, the lot's end time will be extended back up to 60 seconds. This feature ensures that underbidders have a fair opportunity to respond to the bidding.
Viewing
All Jewellery lots are on view in our Kildare Street Saleroom for a number of days before the end of the auction, these times are noted clearly in the 'info' section on each auction webpage. Irish Art and Antiques lots are not available to view in person and can only be viewed online. The images on the website are as accurate reproductions as is practicable and can be relied upon as such. Please note that all items are photographed to look their best under high definition and should you request to see the item as it is currently, you may request a condition report or images via the 'enquiry' button on each lot webpage. Adams Blackrock are pleased to offer a condition report on any lot upon request. Purchasers must satisfy themselves as to the condition and nature of any lot and if in doubt are advised to view jewellery auctions in person.
Buyer's Premium
The buyer shall pay the auctioneer a Buyer's Premium of 25% of the auction price. VAT is payable on the commission at the prevailing rate.
Artists' Resale Rights
Purchase of lots marked with the symbol * only will be subject to payment of a levy for Artists' Resale Rights. Royalties will be calculated at 4% of the hammer price. (Please note: This can be seen at the bottom right of each lot's page). Artists' resale rights are applicable for any works that sell for €3,000 or more and are by a living artist or by an artist who is deceased for less than 70 years. The levy is reduced to 3% between €50,000 and €200,000.
Payment
All purchases must be paid for within 5 calendar days of the sale. Goods will only be released upon clearance through the bank of all monies due. Our payment terms are credit or debit card and cash. Bank transfer details are available on request. Cash payments are acceptable to a limit. All purchases paid for in cash over €500 require completion of a regulator's form, where ID and proof of address must be presented to our staff.
Collection & Delivery
All lots are stored at an off-site secure storage facility outside Dublin. Collection can be made by arrangement only from our saleroom on Lower Ground, at 17 Kildare Street, Dublin. Please contact our office on +353 1 288 5146 to arrange a collection. Please note our office is at basement level and so the stairs and accessibility must be considered when deciding to collect a lot from our office. Please allow up to two weeks for collection to be arranged.
Adams Blackrock offer the in house handling, packaging and fully insured delivery to anywhere in the World at the following rates (per lot):
For lots marked on their catalogue page as requiring a delivery quote due to their size/fragility, please request a quote.
EXPORTATION
It is your sole responsibility to comply with all export and import regulations relating to your purchases and also to obtain any relevant export and/or import licence(s). The detailed provisions of export licensing arrangements can be found on www.revenue.ie.
If you have any queries regarding payment or delivery of your items, or you would like to arrange collection please contact us on +353 1 288 5146 and we will be happy to help.
If you have not bought through our Adams Blackrock Online Auction before please read the following guide. Our Conditions of Sale may be accessed at any point and should be read in conjunction with this short guide.
What is an Online Auction?
An online auction is an automated online-only auction which takes place solely on our website, www.adamsblackrock.ie. The sale will commence at a designated time and date and will run for a specified number of days. The sale will end with every lot finishing at 20 second intervals up until the sales completion. (Please note: Each individual lot displays a unique end time.)
Sale Procedure
To bid on a lot you must register an Adams Blackrock account and login. Once logged in you are ready to place bids online at any time up until the noted end time of each lot. If your bid is accepted, you will be notified on the lot webpage that you are the current highest bidder. If you are outbid you will be notified by email and have the option to bid again and if you are successful with your bid, you will receive an invoice by email after the auction's completion.
Maximum Bid
You may leave a maximum bid which will instruct the software to bid on your behalf only as much as required for you to remain the highest bidder up until your limit. This means that you may be successful with a bid for less than your maximum bid, however you can also be outbid if someone enters a higher maximum bid. If you are outbid you will receive an outbid notification by email. Please note: Only you will know what your maximum bid is. If you enter a maximum bid amount that matches that of another bidder, precedence will be given to the bidder who placed the bid of that amount first and you will be asked to bid again.
Bidding Increments
Bidding increments will be as follows: 0-50 by €5, 50-500 by €10, 500-1000 by €20, 1000-5000 by €50, 5,000-10,000 by €100, 10,000-50,000 by €200, 50,000+ by €500. Bids are received in both EUR and GBP and, accordingly, increments may differ if a bid is received in GBP.
Anti-Snipe Feature
In designing this website, Adams Blackrock have employed over seventy five years' auctioneering experience to replicate events as closely as possible as they occur in the saleroom. If a bid is placed in the final minute of the auction, the lot's end time will be extended back up to 60 seconds. This feature ensures that underbidders have a fair opportunity to respond to the bidding.
Viewing
All Jewellery lots are on view in our Kildare Street Saleroom for a number of days before the end of the auction, these times are noted clearly in the 'info' section on each auction webpage. Irish Art and Antiques lots are not available to view in person and can only be viewed online. The images on the website are as accurate reproductions as is practicable and can be relied upon as such. Please note that all items are photographed to look their best under high definition and should you request to see the item as it is currently, you may request a condition report or images via the 'enquiry' button on each lot webpage. Adams Blackrock are pleased to offer a condition report on any lot upon request. Purchasers must satisfy themselves as to the condition and nature of any lot and if in doubt are advised to view jewellery auctions in person.
Buyer's Premium
The buyer shall pay the auctioneer a Buyer's Premium of 25% of the auction price. VAT is payable on the commission at the prevailing rate.
Artists' Resale Rights
Purchase of lots marked with the symbol * only will be subject to payment of a levy for Artists' Resale Rights. Royalties will be calculated at 4% of the hammer price. (Please note: This can be seen at the bottom right of each lot's page). Artists' resale rights are applicable for any works that sell for €3,000 or more and are by a living artist or by an artist who is deceased for less than 70 years. The levy is reduced to 3% between €50,000 and €200,000.
Payment
All purchases must be paid for within 5 calendar days of the sale. Goods will only be released upon clearance through the bank of all monies due. Our payment terms are credit or debit card and cash. Bank transfer details are available on request. Cash payments are acceptable to a limit. All purchases paid for in cash over €500 require completion of a regulator's form, where ID and proof of address must be presented to our staff.
Collection & Delivery
All lots are stored at an off-site secure storage facility outside Dublin. Collection can be made by arrangement only from our saleroom on Lower Ground, at 17 Kildare Street, Dublin. Please contact our office on +353 1 288 5146 to arrange a collection. Please note our office is at basement level and so the stairs and accessibility must be considered when deciding to collect a lot from our office. Please allow up to two weeks for collection to be arranged.
Adams Blackrock offer the in house handling, packaging and fully insured delivery to anywhere in the World at the following rates (per lot):
For lots marked on their catalogue page as requiring a delivery quote due to their size/fragility, please request a quote.
| Auction | ROI | NI | Worldwide | |
| Jewellery & Watches | €10 (+2.5% of hammer) |
€10 (+2.5% of hammer) |
Quotation required | |
| Fine Wine & Whiskey | €10 (+2.5% of hammer) |
€20 (+2.5% of hammer) |
Quotation required | |
| Irish Paintings | €15 (+2.5% of hammer) |
€25 (+2.5% of hammer) |
Quotation required | |
| Antiques & Furniture | €15 (+2.5% of hammer) |
€25 (+2.5% of hammer) |
Quotation required |
- Pricing is per lot
- Pricing includes the handling, packaging, and fully insured delivery
- Marked items will require a delivery quote due to their size/fragility
- All prices are subject to VAT
EXPORTATION
It is your sole responsibility to comply with all export and import regulations relating to your purchases and also to obtain any relevant export and/or import licence(s). The detailed provisions of export licensing arrangements can be found on www.revenue.ie.
If you have any queries regarding payment or delivery of your items, or you would like to arrange collection please contact us on +353 1 288 5146 and we will be happy to help.
Our accepted payment methods are credit/debit card, electronic transfer and cash. We accept all major credit cards except AMEX.
There are 3 ways to pay:
1. Online via our website's secure payment facility
2. In person at our Kildare Street office
3. By electronic bank transfer (details available on request)
All purchases must be paid for within 5 calendar days of the sale. Goods will only be released upon clearance through the bank of all monies due.
If you have any queries regarding payment please contact us and we will be happy to help.
There are 3 ways to pay:
1. Online via our website's secure payment facility
2. In person at our Kildare Street office
3. By electronic bank transfer (details available on request)
All purchases must be paid for within 5 calendar days of the sale. Goods will only be released upon clearance through the bank of all monies due.
If you have any queries regarding payment please contact us and we will be happy to help.
COLLECTION
All lots are stored at an off-site secure storage facility outside Dublin. Collection can be made by arrangement only from our saleroom on Lower Ground, at 17 Kildare Street, Dublin. Please contact our office on +353 1 288 5146 to arrange a collection. Please note our office is at basement level and so the stairs and accessibility must be considered when deciding to collect a lot from our office. Please allow up to two weeks for collections.
DELIVERY
Adams Blackrock understand the importance of a safe and efficient delivery service for our clients. Therefore, unlike the majority of other auction houses, we offer the in house handling, packaging and fully insured delivery to anywhere in the World at the following rates (per lot):
For lots marked on their catalogue page as requiring a delivery quote due to their size/fragility, please request a quote.
EXPORTATION
It is your sole responsibility to comply with all export and import regulations relating to your purchases and also to obtain any relevant export and/or import licence(s). The detailed provisions of export licensing arrangements can be found on www.revenue.ie.
All lots are stored at an off-site secure storage facility outside Dublin. Collection can be made by arrangement only from our saleroom on Lower Ground, at 17 Kildare Street, Dublin. Please contact our office on +353 1 288 5146 to arrange a collection. Please note our office is at basement level and so the stairs and accessibility must be considered when deciding to collect a lot from our office. Please allow up to two weeks for collections.
DELIVERY
Adams Blackrock understand the importance of a safe and efficient delivery service for our clients. Therefore, unlike the majority of other auction houses, we offer the in house handling, packaging and fully insured delivery to anywhere in the World at the following rates (per lot):
For lots marked on their catalogue page as requiring a delivery quote due to their size/fragility, please request a quote.
| Auction | ROI | NI | Worldwide | |
| Jewellery & Watches | €10 (+2.5% of hammer) |
€10 (+2.5% of hammer) |
Quotation required | |
| Fine Wine & Whiskey | €10 (+2.5% of hammer) |
€20 (+2.5% of hammer) |
Quotation required | |
| Irish Paintings | €15 (+2.5% of hammer) |
€25 (+2.5% of hammer) |
Quotation required | |
| Antiques & Furniture | €15 (+2.5% of hammer) |
€25 (+2.5% of hammer) |
Quotation required |
- Pricing is per lot
- Pricing includes the handling, packaging, and fully insured delivery
- Marked items will require a delivery quote due to their size/fragility
- All prices are subject to VAT
EXPORTATION
It is your sole responsibility to comply with all export and import regulations relating to your purchases and also to obtain any relevant export and/or import licence(s). The detailed provisions of export licensing arrangements can be found on www.revenue.ie.