Banksy’s tribute to Jean-Michel Basquiat depicting a Ferris wheel in which the carriages have been replaced by his famous crown motif features at Art Evolve at the RDS this weekend. The screenprint is showcased by Gormley’s Gallery along with work by Tracy Emin and Damian Hirst. It is priced at €84,000. Ireland’s leading galleries and artists have joined forces this weekend to celebrate the best of cutting edge and contemporary art.
“The Irish visual arts scene has been struggling to find exhibition spaces for artists, so an event such as this is a brilliant opportunity to meet and engage with Ireland’s best artists and gallerists in one location,” said Tara Murphy, Director of Solomon Fine Art. This gallery is showing a 2m-high bronze sculpture by renowned Irish sculptor Rowan Gillespie and a salon-style wall featuring a broad selection of small, affordable works with prices starting from €195. Art Evolve is a collaboration between the Contemporary Art Gallery Association (CAGA) and 70 established galleries and artists.
FERNAND LÉGER (1881-1955) – Les Papillons (1944). UPDATE: THIS MADE 26,000 AT HAMMER
Les Papillons by Fernand Leger is the leading lot at Adams Mid-Century Modern sale on April 8. Viewing for the auction of 241 lots gets underway in Dublin today and continues for the next four days. Among the top lots there is art by Guggi, Stephen McKenna, Suzanne Valadon, Albert Irvin, Felim Egan, A R Penck, Richard Gorman and Sean Scully. There is furniture by Eileen Gray, Charles and Ray Eames, Johannes Anderson, Edmondo Palutari and Niels Otto Moller. Les Papillons is estimated at €20,000-€30,000 and the catalogue is online.
A Valentia slate chair by Edwyn James Hickey of Limerick at Art Evolve at the RDS. Picture: Abe Neihum.
Art Evolve at the RDS in Dublin from April 4 – 6 will bring leading contemporary galleries and artists together with industry professionals. Members of the Contemporary Art Gallery Association will join forces with established galleries to assemble leading Irish and international contemporary art. It will feature an installation by street artist Maser showcasing various chapters of his working life and offering visitors the chance to engage with the artist.
Works by world renowned abstract painter Sean Scully, celebrated sculptor Eilis O’Connell and Aosdána member Patrick Graham will feature at Art Evolve.
“The demand for high-end, modern art is dynamic at the moment and Art Evolve will highlight the latest work by our best living artists in an exciting and immersive setting,” said show organiser, Patrick O’Sullivan. “It is the ideal opportunity for collectors and the culturally curious to experience some of the best contemporary art currently being created in Ireland, and to get some expert advice and guidance from leading galleries,” he said.
James Arthur O’Connor – The Avenue, A View in the Parc de Bruxelles. UPDATE: THIS MADE 19,000 AT HAMMER
A surprisingly strong sense of the contemporary belongs to an 1835 work by James Arthur O’Connor at Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish and International art sale on April 8. There is something almost surreal in the calm atmosphere of this depiction of a park with a neo classical building in the background. It antecedes the much later work of European greats like Rene Magritte and Giorgio de Chirico.
With its diagonal splash of blue sky “The Avenue, A view in the Parc de Bruxelles” was one of the highlights of the James Arthur O’Connor exhibition at the National Gallery of Ireland in 1985. The neo classical building shown now houses the US Embassy in Brussels and the painting – one of a number of highlights in this auction – is estimated at €20,000-€30,000.
The sale is headed by Connemara Hills by Paul Henry, featured on these pages last Saturday and described by Peter Murray as one of Henry’s best paintings. There is impressive work by artists like Roderic O’Conor, Colin Middleton, Donald Teskey, Louis le Brocquy, John Behan and John Shinnors.
Pablo Picasso – Visage Noir (Black Engraved Face)(1953). UPDATE: THIS MADE 18,000 AT HAMMER
Visage Noir (Black Engraved Face) (1953) by PIcasso is a highly sought after Madoura Pottery vase, the result of a collaboration that began in 1947 between the artist and the pottery in the South of France. This one is number 98 from an edition of 100 and is estimated at €15,000-€25,000. Among other highlights are a Famine Ship and a Swans sculpture by Behan and a set of 25 hand coloured acquatints of Malton’s Views of Dublin.
Lady Beatrice Glenavy – The Prayer. UPDATE: THIS MADE 8,500 AT HAMMER
Horses by the Boyne by Nano Reid is estimated at €10,000-€15,000 and Irish women artists and sculptors including Evie Hone, Lady Beatrice Glenavy, Letitia Hamilton, Majella O’Neill Collins, Gladys McCabe, Elizabeth Cope, Norah McGuinness, Elizabeth Brophy, Mary Swanzy, Orla de Bri and Helen Walsh are all represented.
An oil on canvas by George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson features a shipwreck on a rocky coastline and dates to 1850 and there is a painting of Shipping off Dover by Edwin Hayes. A watercolour by Christy Brown entitled A Village Stroll, a view of Inishlackin by Gerard Dillon, a portrait of an Aran Islander by Sean Keating, an abstract by John Kingerlee and a portrait of Rolling Stone Keith Richards in London in 1982 by John Minihan give some idea of the depth and breadth of subject matter in this sale of 161 lots.
There are etchings and lithographs by artists including Andy Warhol, Sonia Delauney, Joan Miro, Louis le Brocquy, Sean Scully and Georges Braque among an appetising selection of highly affordable art. The auction is on view in Skibbereen from March 29 – 31 and at the RDS in Dublin from April 4-7. The online sale draws to a close from 6.30 pm on April 8.
Sonia Delauney – Morning Light UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,200 AT HAMMER
A selection of lots on offer including an early 19th century sideboard at Aidan Foley’s sale in Doneraile.
Art by Mark O’Neill, Markey Robinson, Jack B Yeats and Banksy is included in Aidan Foley’s two day online auction on March 31 and April 1 at 6 pm on each day. Now on view in Doneraile the auction will include contents from the Convent of Mercy in Charleville. Among the highlights is a longcase clock by Egans of Cork, a ten foot long hunt table, a 19th century serving table, an early 19th century sideboard, a Victorian dining table and a Belfast clock. There is garden furniture and collectibles including Oriental rugs, Waterford Crystal, a Killarney wood workbox and porcelain.
Luis Meléndez – Still Life with a Cauliflower, a Basket with Eggs, Leeks, and Fish, and Assorted Kitchen Utensils
One of the greatest collection of Old Masters to come to auction in living memory will be offered by Sotheby’s in New York on May 21 with an estimate of $80-$120 million. Comprising fifty-six works, many of which have been exhibited at leading institutions around the world, the collection of Jordan and Thomas A Saunders III features leading artists from the 16th to the 19th century. At its heart is a remarkable group of still-lifes by Dutch and Flemish masters of the 17th century, alongside exceptional portraits and landscapes. Among the highlights are landscapes by Francesco Guardi and Frans Hals and still lifes by Luis Meléndez, Adriaen Coorte and Jan Davidsz de Heem and portraits by Sir Thomas Lawrence and Frans Hals. The c1826 Lawrence portrait is of Julia Peel, eldest child of British Prime Minister Robert Peel. The collection will be sold on May 21 and a further selection of works will highlight the Masters paintings sale on May 22.
Longcase clock by Egans of Cork UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,750 AT HAMMER
Selected contents from the Convent of Mercy in Charleville and contents from a period home in Cork city will feature at Aidan Foley’s two day sale on March 31 and April 1. Highlights include longcase clocks by Egans of Cork and S D O’Neill Ltd. of Belfast, a 19th century hunt table and art by Markey Robinson, Michael Hales, John Morris and Mark O’Neill. Collectibles include Persian rugs, Waterford crystal, porcelain and garden furniture. An antique violin by Josef Thier of Innsbruck in good original condition will be sold on behalf of The Hope Foundation. The online only auction will be on view in Doneraile from March 28. UPDATE: THE JOSEF THIER VIOLIN MADE 1,420 AT HAMMER AND THE BELFAST LONGCASE CLOCK MADE 2,000 AT HAMMER.
Connemara Hills, the catalogue cover lot for Morgan O’Driscoll’s Irish and International art auction on April 8, is described by Peter Murray in the catalogue note as one of Paul Henry’s best paintings. The former Crawford Gallery curator highlights how in this work – unusually for an artist who often depicted a low horizon and towering clouds – the mountains tower over the cottages almost shutting out the sky. Small in scale and depicting a little village in North Connemara it conveys accurately the awe inspiring landscapes of the region. Henry studied in Paris with Whistler and Mucha and influences from both can be found in the painting. A similar scene was used by Henry in 1925 to illustrate a poster for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. The oil on canvas is estimated at €120,000-€160,000. The auction will be on view in Skibbereen from next March 28-31 and at the RDS in Dublin from April 4-7. The catalogue is online.
Louis XV ormolu mounted desk at Woodwards. UPDATE: THIS MADE 650 AT HAMMER
A Louis XV ormolu mounted desk (€1,000-€2,000), a Sheraton inlaid bowfront sideboard (€600-€800), an Edwardian roll top desk (€750-€1,000), a small Irish Regency bookcase (€400-€500) and a pair of Edwardian demi-lune side tables €750-€1,000) give some indication of the value to be had at Woodwards online auction in Cork on March 29. Some or all of these pieces will be picked up for less than the low estimate. Antique furniture continues to represent very good value. More than 300 lots will come under the hammer.
The decorative interior sale at Victor Mee on March 26 and 27 can be viewed online too. More than 950 lots, headed by an antique Irish Georgian marble fireplace from the Castle Saunderson Estate in Co. Cavan and a cast iron gazebo, will come under the hammer over two online evening sales.
Irish Georgian marble fire surround at Victor Mee. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Louis le Brocquy – The Tain, Massing of the Armies II at Gormley’s. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
From Walter Osborne to Andy Warhol, Louis le Brocquy to Paul Henry, the range of art on offer at four sales in Dublin next week is downright startling. Even though nowadays Irish art is sold at auction all year round there are still selling seasons. Early spring is one of them. The four sales on March 24, 25 and 26 at Whyte’s,de Veres, Gormleys and Adams will keep collectors busy and engaged. There is much to choose from across varying styles at all price points. In terms of expensive art the most significant sales are at Adams and Gormley’s. The top lot at each sale is a highly covetable tapestry by Louis le Brocquy. Cavanagh (€80,000-€120,000) at Adams next Wednesday evening used to hang at the Setanta Centre and featured here last week. The Tain, Massing of the Armies II at Gormley’s online on Tuesday evening is smaller and estimated at €90,000-€120,000. These artworks by one of Ireland’s leading and internationally renowned modern artists will reward a deep dive of exploration. The online sale at Gormley’s is on view at their new gallery premises on Francis St. in Dublin at the heart of the capital’s antiques quarter, previously Niall Mullen’s antique shop. Key pieces include Walter Frederic Osborne’s A Corner Of An Old Almshouse, Bruges (€60,000 – €90,000), Colin Middleton’s Three Kings (€40,000 – €50,000), Percy French’s West of Ireland Bogland ( €3,500 – €4,500), Banksy’s Grannies (€13,000-€17,000) and a screenprint by Andy Warhol titled Committee 2000 (FS II.289) (€14,000-€18,000). A total of 145 lots will come under the hammer at the Adams sale of Important Irish Art. Paul Henry, Mary Swanzy, Frank McKelvey, Tony O’Malley, Colin Middleton, Hilary Heron, George Russell, Gerard Dillon, Patrick Swift and John Shinnors feature among the leading artists on offer. The emphasis on the sale is on art from the 20th century and much of it is affordable. There is a good solid sale at de Veres timed online sale with bidding closing from 6 pm on Tuesday (March 25). Leading lots – all with top estimates of €20,000 and under – include work by artists who are sought by collectors including Dan O’Neill, Norah McGuinness, le Brocquy, Hughie O’Donoghue, Basil Blackshaw, Sir William Orpen and Harry Kernoff. The catalogue features 186 lots. The Spring online sale at Whyte’s, where the sale of Important Irish art on March 3 realised more than €1.2 million, is also brimful of interest and at a much lower price point. There are lithographs by William Scott, silhouettes by August Edouart, oils by Markey Robinson, a memory triggering painting of Collinstown Airport, Dublin in the 1940’s by Ivan Sutton among a selection of 265 lots in an estimate range of €80 to €5,000 at auction from 6 pm next Monday.
PICTURED BELOW: Ivan Sutton – Collinstown Airport, Dublin 1940’s at Whytes. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,500 AT HAMMER
William Crozier – Still Life at de Veres. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Gerard Dillon – Abstract by Night at Adams. UPDATE: THIS MADE 7,500 AT HAMMER
