John Hogan (1800 - 1858) Sculptor.
- Inscription on plaque in Cove Street:
"John Hogan (1800 - 1858). The leading Irish Neo-Classical Sculptor of his day. Hogan was apprentice to Cork architect Sir Thomas Deane and studied in Rome. He lived on this street"
John Hogan was one of Irelands' greatest sculptors.
John Hogan was born in Tallow on October 14th 1800 and spent his youth in the parish of Cork. He took up carpentry at an early age, but when his talent for draughtsmanship and carving was recognised, he was encouraged by the architect, Sir Thomas Deane, to take up sculpture. John Hogan was sent to Rome where he studied at the School of St. Luke and the Vatican galleries and established a studio there.
John Hogan's best known works are the 3 versions of the statue of "The Redeemer in Death" or "The Dead Christ". Created in flawless Carrara marble, the first version (1829) is located in St. Therese's Church, Clarendon Street, Dublin, the second (1833) in St. Finbarr's (South) Church Cork and the third and final version (1854) is located in the Basilica of St. John The Baptist, Newfoundland.
John Hogan assured his international reputation in 1829 with The Dead Christ. Thereafter, his creations were snapped up by Irish bishops visiting his Rome studio, and Hogan was pronounced by the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorwaldsen as "the best sculptor I leave after me in Rome."
The Drunken Faun is possibly Hogan's masterpiece. It was executed n Rome, in response to a challange made by Gibson, one of Hogan's fellow sculptors, that no new original pose was possible. In spite of being based somewhat on the Barberini faun, Hogan's sculpture soundly disproves Gibsons assertion.
Other works done by Hogan include the bronze statue of O'Connell erected in the Crescent Limerick and the statue of Father Matthew in Cork. He died at his home in Wenthworth Place, Dublin on 27 March 1858.
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