A PORTRAIT of the State Pathologist Marie Cassidy, painted by a Cork artist, was unveiled this week at the National Gallery of Ireland.

The painting, by Cobh artist Jack Hickey, was commissioned by the National Gallery as part of the Hennessy Portrait Prize 2017.

It is the latest addition to the gallery’s National Portrait Collection, which acknowledges individuals who have made major inputs to Irish life.

Professor Cassidy was chosen in recognition of her contribution to science.

Speaking to RTÉ news at the unveiling on Friday, Jack Hickey described it as a huge achievement for him.

“Only two rooms over there is a Caravaggio on the wall and a few years ago I was coming in just to sit in front of it for a few minutes,” he said.

“So to have your own piece only two rooms away from one of the greats is a huge achievement for me.” Mr Hickey graduated from CIT’s Crawford College of Art and Design in 2011 and has been a practising artist since.

He painted a mural of Cork boxer and Hollywood star Jack Doyle in 2013 which is exhibited in his native Cobh.

Mr Hickey also enjoyed a residency position in Bordeaux in France in 2016.

It was announced in November 2017, that he had won the Hennessy Portrait Prize, taking home €15,000.