WILLIAM ORPEN (IRISH 1878 - 1931) Study of a male nude signed and dated W. Orpen / Dec. 96 (lower right) pencil 72.3 x 47 cm (28 1/2 x 18 1/2 in), unframed with the blind stamp ESK in the paper (lower left) PROVENANCE: Archibald de Montfort, Stillorgan (a gift from the artist) Thence by descent to the present owner Archibald de Montfort (1878-1948) was a childhood friend and neighbour of the artist when Orpen was living with his family at Oriel House in Stillorgan. Later ordained, de Montfort's ministry was in County Cork. Executed in Orpen's final year at the Metropolitan School of Art, Dublin, where he was the stand out pupil, the ESK blind stamp on the present drawing indicates 'Examined South Kensington'. The South Kensington System was a national schools syllabus for the teaching of art across the country and Empire. It is likely that the present work was one of the three drawings Orpen submitted to the national schools prize that academic year, and for which he was awarded the Gold Medal.