Rod Coyne — Ulster Sheep, 1995

Rod Coyne’s Ulster Sheep (1995) brings political caricature and street disorder into a forceful composition rooted in Northern Ireland’s sectarian landscape.

A towering orator, interpreted as Rev. Ian Paisley, dominates the scene. Below him, a child raises a fist beside an overturned burning car and a placard warning that those taking part in the procession are committing an offence. The contrast between the commanding figure and the turmoil beneath gives the painting its tension.

The title invites questions about leadership, allegiance, and collective behavior. Painted in 1995, the work addresses the uneasy relationship between political authority and the people drawn into its conflicts.
Exhibited at the Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition in 2001, with the exhibition label retained on the reverse.

Medium: Acrylic on canvas.
Signature: Signed and dated “R. Coyne ’95” lower right.
Presentation: Wooden frame.
Condition: Minor edge wear. Please review the photographs of the painted surface, frame, signature, and exhibition label.