Bust of Homer by Francis Harwood.
A bust of Homer discovered in Ireland made £242,500 over an estimate of £70,000-100,000 at Sotheby’s Old Master Sculpture and Works of Art sale in London today. The previously unrecorded marble bust by Francis Harwood is his earliest known depiction of the Greek poet and dates to 1757.
Housed in Dublin and then in Co. Louth it was purchased by Canon Joseph Furlong from Powerscourt. Canon Furlong, a keen airman, died in 1971 and the sculptor passed by descent to the present owner.
(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for September 19, 2014)