John Behan (b.1938) – Bantry Famine Ship
On the face of it you might think the invisible people represented in this powerful and unique bronze sculpture by John Behan did not have much to be grateful for. But at least the downtrodden, starving migrants represented in the ragged, torn and limping Bantry Famine Ship arrived in the 19th century and not the 21st in Europe or the United States. If they made it into Ireland or any other country now they might have to run a gauntlet of attack by social media organised anti immigrant thugs with petrol bombs and other handy implements in a world where basic humanity is in dwindling supply. The sculpture made a hammer price of €14,000 at Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish and International art sale.
Paul Henry’s Cottages on Achill Sound was the top lot of the sale. It made €120,000 at hammer. Other top hammer prices were achieved by Andy Warhol for screenprints of Ingrid Bergman (€70,000) and Jane Fonda (€28,000) and an oil by Donald Teskey (€32,000).