In Davy's Back Snug, Dublin (1936) by Harry Kernoff at Adams Bonhams

ADAMS BONHAMS

The Adams Bonhams sale of Important Irish Art in Dublin on Wednesday June 2 at 6 p.m. will feature 168 lots.

There are three large works by Tony O’Malley from the McClelland Collection, recently on loan to the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Various Events 1979 is estimated at 40,000-60,000, Irish Inscape with Skull, Callan 1981 is estimated at 20,000-30,000 and Two Winter Drawings with Panels 1981 is estimated at 10,000-15,000.

Harry Kernoff’s In Davy’s Back Snug (1936) is estimated at 50,000-70,000 and Gerard Dillon’s In the London Flat has an estimate of 60,000-80,000. There are four works by Colin Middleton in the sale, the top two estimated at 40,000-60,000, another with an estimate of 30,000-50,000 and one at 20,000-30,000. Also featured are two tapestries by Louis le Brocquy estimated at 25,000-35,000 each and a watercolour from his Procession Series. Sir John Lavery’s Portrait of Mrs. Arthur Franklin is estimated at 40,000-60,000, Edward McGuire’s Owl with Oak Leaves has an estimate of 15,000-20,000 and George Collie’s monumental depiction of the fruit and vegetable market at Smithfield in 1927 is estimated at 30,000-50,000. Other artists featured include Daniel O’Neill, George Campbell, Jerome Connor, William Conor, James Humbert Craig, Lilian Davidson, Charles Lamb, Markey Robinson, Patrick Collins, Evie Hone, Letitia Marion Hamilton, Patrick Hennessy, Paul Henry, George Russell Æ, Mary Swanzy, J.B. Vallely and Jack B. Yeats. Viewing at St. Stephen’s Green is from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 30, from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, May 31 and June 1 and from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday June 2.

Downloadable catalogue on www.adams.ie

In the London Flat by Gerard Dillon at Adams Bonhams

The Turn of the Road, c1941 by Paul Henry at Whyte's

WHYTE’S

The Turn of the Road, a classical Connemara landscape by Paul Henry, features in the Whyte’s sale of Important Irish Art on Monday May 31 at 6 p.m. Discovered during Whyte’s valuation day in Belfast in January it is estimated at 60,000-80,000. In Henry’s oeuvre this painting was previously untraced or unidentified by Henry expert Dr. S.B. Kennedy.

There is particular Cork interest in this 222 lot sale as it includes 81 works from the collection of the late senior counsel Jim O’Driscoll, a former director of the Fenton Gallery in Cork and a supporter of local and national artists. Some of these are relatively new to the auction market, as their work is more likely to be found in contemporary galleries. Cork artists featured include Diarmuid O Ceallachain, Bridget Flannery, Maurice Desmond, Jill Dennis, Michael Mulcahy, William Harrington with sculptural works by Eilis O’Connell and John Burke.

Of the contemporary artists championed by Jim O’Driscoll, Tony O’Malley, John Shinnors, Charles Tyrrell and William Crozier dominate in this sale. His collection also features works by Gerard Dillon, Nano Reid, Brian Bourke, Patrick Scott and Louis le Brocquy. A le Brocquy watercolour from 1946 entitled Tinker Children at a Fair is estimated at 30,000-40,000 and there are works by Daniel O’Neill, Jack Yeats, Paddy Graham, Francis Bacon, George Campbell, Hughie O’Donoghue, Ciaran Lennon, Cecil King, Mainie Jellett and Basl Ivan Rakoczi. Viewing and the sale will take place at the Clyde Rooms in the RDS from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 28 and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 29, 30 and 31.

Downloadable catalogue on www.whytes.ie

Spectral Garden, Bahamas, 1987 by Tony O'Malley at Whyte's

SOTHEBY’S IRISH SALE ON MAY 6

AN important portrait by Sir John Lavery (1856-1941) and undoubtedly the most important early masterpiece by Louis le Brocquy (b. 1916) will headline Sotheby’s annual Irish Sale in London on Thursday, 6 May 2010. Altogether there are 108 lots on offer.

The Gold Turban by Sir John Lavery (lot 30) is considered one of the finest portraits by the artist of his wife Hazel (1880-1935). Painted in 1929, it is estimated at £400,000-600,000 (€441,000-665,000). The picture showcases the artist’s skilful handling of paint in the sitter’s headwear, luminescent skin and red lipstick.

TREASURE TROVE ON OFFER IN JUNE

A landscape by French artist Andre Derain (click on image to enlarge)

IN 1939, a group of works that belonged to the recently-deceased legendary art dealer Ambroise Vollard was deposited in a bank vault in Paris.

Forgotten during the war and its aftermath, they remained in the vault for decades. They will finally make their first ever appearance on the market at Sotheby’s in June.   more….

UPDATE:  André Derain’s Arbres à Collioure sold to an anonymous telephone bidder for £16,281,250, (€19,521,241) having attracted strong bids from a number of potential buyers. This price establishes a new record for this artist as well as a record price for a Fauve painting at auction.

The remaining 139 Works from the trove achieved €3,554,301 at Sotheby’s Paris on June 29.  There was a record for an etching by Picasso sold in France – €720,750  and a record for an etching by Renoir -€252,750

LAVERY LEADS AT O’DRISCOLLS

Orange by Louis le Brocquy

The top lot at the Morgan O’Driscoll sale in Cork on Monday was Sir John Lavery’s oil on canvas entitled Wilton. It made 10,250 against an estimate of 10,000-15,000. The sale of 285 lots was 69% sold and brought in a hammer price of 250,000.

There was disappointment when the 1972 le Brocquy entitled Orange was withdrawn at 44,000, having failed to reach the low estimate of 50,000-70,000. Two limited edition colour prints entitled Human Image by le Brocquy each made 3,200.  more…

MID-MAY MUNSTER ANTIQUES FAIR

THERE is to be a large two day antiques fair in the leafy setting of the Fota Island Resort Hotel in Cork over the weekend of May 15/16.

Dealers from around the country will be in attendance at the Munster Antique and Fine Art Fair.

Organiser Robin O’Donnell of Hibernian Antique Fairs has been running regular fairs throughout Ireland for the past 20 years.  Latterly he has upgraded a small number of these into two day events at venues like the K Club, the Culloden Hotel in Belfast and Dromoland Castle in Co. Clare with an emphasis on luxury.

Now it is the turn of Cork where the mid-May Fota Fair will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days.  more…