Two of the largest auction houses in Dublin are currently preparing for the sale of approximately 300 pieces produced by Irish painters and sculptors. These sales are anticipated to take place within the upcoming ten days. Dealers of the pieces have been eager to highlight that there is a robust interest and demand for Irish art.
James O’Halloran, a representative from Adams, shared the sentiment that the Irish art market remains buoyant and reliable across varied styles and periods. Adams will be holding their event titled “Important Irish Art Auction” at their St Stephen’s Green showrooms on the 25th of September.
Ian Whyte similarly acknowledges the strength of the market, indicating that quality works are in high demand and prices have rebounded to the peaks witnessed during 2000 to 2007 for many artists. Whyte’s auction, also dubbed as “Important Irish Art”, will take place at the Freemason’s Hall on Molesworth Street in Dublin on the 30th of September.
High-profile Irish artists such as Jack Butler Yeats, Paul Henry, William Orpen, and Louis le Brocquy are the most sought after in both auctions. However, it’s noted that art pieces created by female artists are often estimated at significantly lower prices, thereby providing an excellent opportunity for new collectors interested in collecting works from female Irish artists.
A case in point is the comparison of works from art couple Paul and Grace Henry. Paul’s ‘Keel Bay, Achill’ is listed with an estimation of €60,000-€80,000, whereas Grace’s work, ‘Cottages, Achill’, has a much lower guide of €8,000-€12,000. The pair resided on Achill island from 1912 to 1919 before they relocated to Dublin as founding members of the Society of Dublin Painters.
Another noteworthy artist featuring in the Whyte’s auction is Mildred Anne Butler. Her artworks such as ‘Sheep in a Meadow’, ‘Poppies’, and ‘Water Party’ are valued at €1,500-€2,000, €6,000-€8,000, and €15,000-€20,000 respectively.
The At Home in Nature exhibition at the National Gallery will spotlight the work of Mildred Anne Butler (1858-1941) from September 14th through January 5th. Butler spent the majority of her life at Kilmurry House, an 18th-century manse located near Thomastown, Co Kilkenny. Her artwork was substantially influenced by the gardens surrounding her family home, where she had a studio in the orangery. In the exhibition catalogue’s essay, Adelle Hughes notes that Butler’s painting, Morning Bath, was exhibited at the Royal Academy in London in 1896 following a stint in Cornwall. The painting was subsequently purchased by the Chantry Bequest trustees and displayed at the Tate Gallery, where it can be viewed currently.
Artistic works by Frank McKelvey (1895-1974), a Belfast-originated artist, will be featured in auctions by Whyte and Adam. McKelvey, a Belfast School of Art alumnus, garnered recognition as a premier landscape artist in Northern Ireland during the initial half of the 20th century. His work, A Donegal Farmyard (estimated value €20,000), to be auctioned by Adam’s, exemplifies the period’s trend toward depictions of countrified rural life as artists moved away from formal country house landscapes.
Adam’s auction will also showcase paintings by another Northern Irish artist, Gerard Dillon (1916-1971). His artwork Man and Dog (€8,000-€12,000) belongs to a series created in honour of his brother Joe, who died prematurely in 1962. His portrayal of pianist Thomas Davidson, named The Music Teacher (estimated worth €20,000), is believed to have been painted while both of them were residing in Dillon’s sister’s London house.
Another notable artwork to be included in the Adam’s auction is Hughie O’Donoghue’s large oil painting from 2008, No 37 Stuttgart 7 Hours, 20 Minutes, 24.7.44 (estimated value €30,000-€50,000). O’Donoghue, who splits his time between Mayo and London and whose parents migrated to England from Ireland before his birth, has created many series inspired by his father’s World War II experiences in the British army.
In an analytical essay, Aidan Dunne interprets an artwork as projecting an intimidating, grand sense of foreboding as the cumbersome Lancaster aircraft ignites the profound darkness of the night. The artwork mirrors a legendary vessel on the brink of oblivion. This artwork is a part of a collection of paintings alluding to the experiences of the pathfinder bomber aircraft crew from England during WWII, also reflecting the destructive essence of warfare.
Furthermore, both auctions will showcase the creations of several modern Irish artists such as Edward Delaney, Melanie Le Brocquy, Oisín Kelly, John Behan, and more. Concurrently, art pieces by Banksy, Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, among others, will be exhibited alongside Irish artists’ work at the newly established Charlemont Square in Dublin. The display, organised by Gormleys, will run from September 26th to October 17th, between 11 am-6 pm from Tuesday to Saturday, and 12 pm to 5 pm on Sundays.
The prices of various artworks at the auction house Adams are listed as follows: Fiona McDonald’s print, Electrolyte Field was estimated to fetch around €200-€400, but the hammer price was €300. Patricia Douthwaite’s pastel art, Under the Deep Blue Sea, had an estimated price range of €600-€800 but sold for €900. A bronze piece by Silverio Rivas, titled Abstract Form, was estimated at €800-€1,200, however, it sold for €1,500. Lastly, an untitled oil painting on paper by Cecil King, valued at €300-€400, sold at the lower end of the estimation at €300.