The Potato Diggers by Paul Henry at Adams. Click on image to enlarge. UPDATE: THIS MADE 400,000 AT HAMMER, A NEW WORLD RECORD.
The catalogue cover for Adams sale of Important Irish Art in Dublin on May 29 features Paul Henry’s The Potato Diggers. The 1911 work has been in the same family collection since the 1930’s. It was last seen in public more than 20 years ago at the Hugh Lane Gallery “Irish Art and Modernism” exhibition. Described by Dr. S.B. Kennedy as “his masterpiece” the painting is estimated at 250,000-350,000.
The auction catalogue features 179 carefully chosen lots including a second, classical work by Paul Henry of Thatched Cottages with Lake and Mountains beyond. It was estimated at 120,000-160,000 and sold for 130,000.
UPDATE: The sale realised 1.65 million including premium and just under 80 per cent of lots on offer were sold.