Private Dealers in Fine Irish and European Paintings

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Roderic Montagu O'Connor 1907-2001



Jack Dempsey in Training 1926

Oil on canvas 61x50cm
Signed by the artist
top left and dated 1926
Repository label verso:
R. Strahan & Co, Dublin, U9335.

Jack Dempsey was born in poor circumstances in Manassa, Colorado, and spent his childhood in West Virginia. His parents were Mary Celia and Hiram Dempsey. His ancestry included Irish, Scottish and Cherokee lines. However, in Dempsey's own words, “I am basically Irish, with Cherokee blood from both parents, plus a Jewish strain from my father’s great-grandmother.” He first competed as "Jack Dempsey" in Cripple Creek, Colorado, in the autumn of 1914. His brother, Bernie, also fought under the 'Jack Dempsey' pseudonym. This was in homage to the middleweight boxer and former champion, Jack Nonpareil Dempsey. He won his first heavyweight world title on the 4th of July 1919 beating Jess Willard and defended his title six times before losing to Gene Tunney in 1926. One of these matches became known as ‘The Fight of the Century’ and took place in Jersey City in 1921 against the French challenger, Georges Carpentier. It was a bruising battle in which Carpentier suffered a crushing defeat. Nevertheless, the two became life-long friends and paid each other regular visits in their native cities. The standard F12 size of the current canvas suggests that it was painted by O’Connor in Paris and portrays Dempsey at a training session in 1926.



Photo taken in 1926, most likely by
Charles Clyde Ebbets, Dempsey's official
photographer.

Notwithstanding his Irish roots, Roderic Montagu O’Connor was born in Paris and had a studio there at this time. Whether he was a friend of Dempsey or was working on commission is open to speculation. Nevertheless, he succeeds in capturing the stealthy determination of the boxer without a hint of sentimentality. Not to be confused with Roderic Anthony O’Conor 1860-1940, his Franco Irish American roots produced a painter of great talent, known for his murals and compositions of Roman architectural ruins in gouache and oil. He also painted Venetian scenes, landscapes, figurative works and still lifes, and is particularly noted as a portrait painter. He signed his paintings with only his first name, occasionally coupling it with his middle name, which led to much confusion over the years as to his real identity. However, he was born on the 29th October 1907 in Clamart, a commune in the south-western suburbs of Paris, the son of the well-known Irish sculptor Andrew O’Connor 1874-1941.

To be included in our Irish Masters catalogue in April 2026.

Photos on request: dom@mpfa.ie

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Private Dealers in Fine Irish and European Paintings
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