Osborne oils atde Veres

THE Irish Impressionist landscape and portrait painter Walter Frederick Osborne (1859-1903) didn't live too long - always a smart business move for an artist. He died prematurely, of pneumonia, aged just 44.

Born in Rathmines, he studied at the Royal Hibernian Academy schools and later in Antwerp. He lived for some time in Brittany and one of his best-known paintings, Apple Gathering, Quimperlé,hangs in the National Gallery of Ireland. Two small oils by this sought-after artist go under the hammer at the de Veres Irish art auction on Monday evening at the D4 Berkeley Hotel in Ballsbridge.

Connemara Landscapemeasures 7½in by 11¼in and has an estimate of €10,000-€15,000; while Shepherding measures 5½in by 9in and is estimated at €8,000-€12,000.

Inevitably, after this week's record-breaking price for a painting by Jack B Yeats, there will be interest in two rather more affordable works by the artist: an early oil painting dated 1913, titled Kerry Hills, is estimated at €30,000-€40,000; and a sketch, titled Basement, is €2,000-€3,000.