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An online auction of  292 lots of Irish art is running at Morgan O’Driscoll. It continues until January 19. The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:

UPDATE:  A TOTAL OF 93% OF LOTS SOLD

Arthur K. Maderson (b.1942)
Market Day, Lodeve (4,000-5,000). UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 3,600

Cecil Maguire RHA RUA (b.1930)
Derrynane (2,500-3,500)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,000

Peter Collis RHA (1929-2012)
Still Life – Fruit and Wine (2,500-3,500). UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,600

Daniel O’Neill (1920-1974)
Two Figures in a Landscape (800-1,200).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 4,600

Henri Matisse – Odalisque au fauteuil noir.  UPDATE: IT MADE £15.83 MILLION

Henri Matisse’s Odalisque au fauteuil noir  will be a highlight at Sotheby’s Impressionist and Modern Art evening sale in London on February 3.  Dated 1942 the portrait depicts  Princess Nézy-Hamidé Chawkat, the great granddaughter of the last Sultan of Turkey.  The exquisitely coloured painting is one of the finest of the artist’s celebrated ‘Odalisque’ paintings to come to the market and is estimated at £9-12 million.  It will be shown at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong from January 9-12.

The Princess was spotted in the street by Matisse in 1940. He was drawn to her dark, striking looks. After a formal request permission was granted by the Princesses grandmother for her to sit for the artist, accompanied by a chaperone. Over the course of almost two years she became his favourite model. The painting reflects Matisse’s interest in orientalism, which he first began to explore in the 1920’s.

Dolans will have an auction of Irish art, much of it very affordable,  at Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork on January 18.  There will also be some antique and collectible lots. The catalogue is still in the course of preparation.  Here are a couple of artworks which will feature in the sale.

Norah McGuinness HRHA
1901-1980
FIELDS OF DONEGAL (1,400-1,800).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 1,400

Michael Morris
b.1979
SUBURBAN VILLA (400-600). UPDATE: THIS MADE 600

Paul Cézanne, Vue sur L’Estaque et Le Château d’If   UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £13,522,500

A masterpiece by Paul Cézanne, Vue sur L’Estaque et Le Château d’If, will be a highlight at Christie’s Impresssionist and Modern Art evening sale in London on February 4.  Estimated at £8-12 million it is on the market for the first time since it was acquired in 1936 by Samuel Courtauld, founder of the Courtauld Gallery and Institute of Art in London. The painting remained in Courtauld’s private collection throughout his lifetime.  It was painted c1883-1885, during one of the last visits that Cézanne ever made to L’Estaque, a fishing port and small seaside resort in his native Provence, where he sought inspiration repeatedly from the mid-1860s. This is a rare example on a vertical canvas of Cézanne’s treatment of this iconic motif.

Jay Vincze, International Director and Head of The Impressionist and Modern Art Department, Christie’s London said: “The exceptional quality, rarity and freshness of Vue sur L’Estaque et Le Château d’If provides collectors and institutions around the world with a once in a generation opportunity to secure an important and very beautiful masterpiece landscape by Cézanne. Acquired in 1936 by one of the 20^th century’s greatest connoisseurs, the inspirational patron of the arts and generous philanthropist Samuel Courtauld, the provenance of this outstanding painting is exemplary. His legacy through the Courtauld Gallery and Institute continues to enrich and inform contemporary culture today and his early recognition of Cézanne’s genius gave rise to the greatest public collection of the artist’s work in Britain. We expect this painting to create great excitement internationally, from discerning buyers – both new and established – across Asia and Russia to Europe and America.”

Norah McGuinness (1901-1980) – Spring Planting made 1,600 at hammer.

An arresting feature of the current market for Irish art became apparent at James Adam in Dublin last night. The sale highlights – Spring Planting by Norah McGuinness and Hidden Landscape by Patrick Collins, made well over their estimates.  There is no shortage of money or competition for the best works in todays market, selling everything else is hard work. Both were highlights of the ESB  Collection which was offered on December 16. The sale of 148 works brought in 160,000 and 84.25% sold.

The McGuinness sold for a hammer price of 16,000 over an estimate of 5,000-7,000 and was the top lot at the auction. The Collins made 14,000 at hammer, over an estimate of 7,000-10,000.  Forest Field by Colin Crotty sold for 1,300 over a top estimate of 700, Charles Tyrrell’s Spree made 8,000 at hammer, which was the top estimate.  Another Tyrrell, Cross Flow, made 6,500 with an estimate of 5,000-8,000.  The catalogue cover lot, Cecil Maguire’s Claddagh Quay, Galway sold for a hammer price of 9,000 over an estimate of 3,000-5,000.  Fergus O’Ryan’s Autumn Flood, Annamoe broke its top estimate of 2,000 by making a hammer of 2,100 and John Skeltons The Road to the Sea, the Rosses made 2,100 over a top estimate  of 1,500. Collecting Driftwood by John Skelton made 2,200 over a top estimate of 1,200 and a Still Life by Peter Collis made 1,600 over  a top estimate of 1,200.