Three major art auctions in Dublin this week – on three consecutive evenings – saw strong demand in all price brackets. Following Whyte's auction in the RDS on Monday evening, where 80 per cent of lots sold, auctioneer Ian Whyte said "this was a further indication that the improvement in the demand for art of quality continues".
The highest price was achieved for Being – an oil-on-canvas dated 2000 – by Louis le Brocquy which failed to reach its low estimate but sold for €78,000 (€80,000-€100,000. Among other highlights: Connemara by Paul Henry exceeded its top estimate and made €66,000 (€40,000-€60,000); as did Harvest Light by Tony O' Malley which made €34,000 (€20,000-€30,000). Portrait of Dan O'Neill by Gerard Dillon made €21,000 (€20,000-€30,000); and, Airman Of Inisheer by Margaret Clarke €7,500 (€5,000- €7,000). For full results see whytes.ie
On Tuesday evening at De Veres, where 80 per of lots also sold, the top lot was Man In A Train, Thinking by Jack B Yeats which made €220,000 – within its estimate (€200,000-€300,000) but €75,000 less than it made when it last appeared at auction, in Adam's auction in 2006 when it sold for €295,000. Among other highlights: Les Enfants et les Ombres by William John Leech made €56,000 (€40,000- €60,000); A Hooker and a Nobbie by Jack B Yeats €40,000 (€40,000-€60,000); A Sunny Morning in the Fields, Pont-Aven by Walter Frederick Osborne €38,000 (€20,000-€30,000); and, Cottages, Connemara by Paul Henry €27,000 (€20,000- €30,000). De Veres auctioneer Rory Guthrie described the results as "outstanding" and said they'd had "record viewing numbers". For full results see deveres.ie
On Wednesday evening, Adam's also sold 80 per cent of lots. The highest price was for Still Life Study with Fruit and Pottery on a Mahogany Table by Roderic O'Conor which made €48,000 – at the top end of the estimate (€30,000-€50,000).
After the auction David Britton of Adam's said this was "the third successful sale in Dublin this week which shows that demand is back".
Both paintings by Jack B Yeats sold: Top of the Fall for €36,000 (€25,000- €35,000); and, The Creole €35,000 (€30,000 –€40,000).
The Portrait of Pamela Mitford by French artist Paul César Helleu, which had been given as a gift by the sitter to a Tipperary clergyman in the late 1950s made €20,000 (€20,000-€30,000). The Pillar, a bronze and stone sculpture by Rowan Gillespie made €19,000 (€15,000 – €20,000). Among other highlights: A Horse Alone by Patrick Hennessy made €9,000 (€7,000-€9,000); Metal Fatigue by John Doherty €4,200 (€3,000- €5,000); A Summer's Day (watercolour) by Mildred Anne Butler €7,500 (€8,000-€12,000). For full results see adams.ie
