Roundabout Ponies by Jack B. Yeats. (click to enlarge) IT SOLD FOR £5,760
The last sketch by Jack B. Yeats (1871-1957) has been consigned by the family of his former nurse to Bonhams first Irish art sale in London on February 9 next. The pen and ink drawing, `Roundabout ponies’, measures just over 5 x 4 inches and is estimated at £1,500-2,000.
It was gifted by the artist to the matron of Portobello Nursing Home in Dublin, where he died. They had been friends for a long time.
Yeats Catalogue Raisonne author Hilary Pyle says of it: “He died on 28 March 1957. His last drawing, a tiny gay swirling sketch of two roundabout ponies on writing paper, was drawn two days before.”
Penny Day, head of Irish art at Bonhams, said: ”This little gem exhibits the unique artistic vitality he had right to the end.”
See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for September 15 and December 22.
UPDATE: IT MADE £5,760 INCLUSIVE OF BUYER’S PREMIUM.