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    • FIRST MAJOR EXHIBITION OF IRISH ART IN LONDON FOR 30 YEARS

    May 13th, 2015
    Still Life, c. 1959 © Norah McGuinness. Courtesy AIB Collection.

    Still Life, c. 1959 © Norah McGuinness. Courtesy AIB Collection.

    The first major exhibition of Irish art in London for 30 years opens today at The Mall Galleries. Featuring over 70 works from 1900 to the present day it draws on the collections of paintings, photography, tapestry and sculpture from the AIB Collection and the Crawford Gallery in Cork.

    Works by open air painters Aloysius O’Kelly, Sir John Lavery and Roderic O’Conor are represented, together with the ‘Dublin Painters’, Sean Keating, Jack B. Yeats, Paul and Grace Henry. Artists who celebrated the Irish way of life, like Harry Kernoff, as well as other experimenters who embraced new styles and themes, including Mary Swanzy, Mainie Jellett and Norah McGuinness, also feature. The contemporary scene is represented with major works by Louis le Brocquy, Colin Middleton, Sean Scully, photographer Willie Doherty and Royal Academician Hughie O’Donoghue. Younger emerging artists such as Shane Blount and Caroline McCarthy demonstrate the strength and depth of Irish art today.

    The Art of a Nation runs until May 31.

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    ROTHKO’S YELLOW AND BLUE SELLS FOR $46.5 MILLION

    May 13th, 2015
    Untitled (Yellow and Blue) by Mark Rothko sold for $46.5 million

    Untitled (Yellow and Blue) by Mark Rothko sold for $46.5 million

    Mark Rothko’s Untitled (Yellow and Blue) made $46.5 million at Sotheby’s in New York last night. It was the top lot in a contemporary art evening sale which realised $380 million and set seven new artist price records.  There was global participation with works consigned from 11 countries and bidders from 40 countries and significant participation from Latin America and  Asia.

    Mark Rothko’s Untitled (Yellow and Blue), which was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon for over 30 years, sold for $46,450,000 to an anonymous client after it was underbid by an Asian private collector.

    Roy Lichtenstein’s The Ring (Engagement) sold for $41,690,000.  The work has had only two owners in 50 years and came from the collection of Stefan T. Edlis. The price is nearly 20 times the $2,202,500 the work fetched when it last appeared at auction in November 1997 at Sotheby’s.

    There were artists records for Christopher Wool, Sigmar Polke, Mark Bradford, Mark Grotjahn, Danh Vô, Thomas Struth and Helen Frankenthaler.

    (See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for May 8 and April 13, 2015).

    Andy Warhol's Superman sold for $14,362,000

    Andy Warhol’s Superman sold for $14,362,000

    Sigmar Polke - Dschungel (Jungle), sold for a new record of $27,130,000

    Sigmar Polke – Dschungel (Jungle), sold for a new record of $27,130,000

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    THE MOST VALUABLE ARTWORK EVER SOLD AT AUCTION

    May 12th, 2015
    Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Les femmes d'Alger, Version O

    Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Les femmes d’Alger, Version O Copyright 2015 Estate of Pablo Picasso/Artists Rights Society New York

    Pablo Picasso’s Les Femmes d’Alger (Version 0) sold for $179,365,000 at Christie’s in New York last night to become the most valuable work of art ever sold at auction.  At the same sale Giacometti’s Pointing Man made $141,285,000 to become the most expensive sculpture ever sold at auction. Both featured at Christie’s Looking Forward to the Past, a curated auction that achieved a staggering $705,858,000. There were new world auction records for ten works. Of the 35 works offered, two sold for over $100 million, three for over $50 million, nine for over $20 million, 12 for over $10 million and 29 for over $1 million.

    Alberto Giacometti – L’homme au doigt (Pointing Man). Courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2015/© 2015 Alberto Giacometti Estate/Licensed by VAGA and ARS, New York

    Alberto Giacometti – L’homme au doigt (Pointing Man). Courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2015/© 2015 Alberto Giacometti Estate/Licensed by VAGA and ARS, New York

    A total of 15,000 visitors viewed the pre-sale exhibition at Christie’s Rockefeller Center galleries over the last 10 days. The auction saw participation from a diverse group of clients representing 35 different countries.

    “From the moment that we announced the sale, global collectors embraced the concept and were prepared to consign masterpieces to the auction. Over 70 percent of the works included in the sale have been shown in major museum exhibitions and the works themselves spanned over 100 years of modernism, beginning with Monet’s Le Parlement of 1901 to Urs Fischer’s wax figure of Rudolf Stingel of 2011,” noted Jussi Pylkkänen, Global President and the sale’s auctioneer. “Christie’s will continue in years to come to innovate more sale concepts that inspire the art collecting public. We have entered a new era of the art market where collectors from all parts of the world compete for the very best across categories, generating record prices at levels we have never seen before.”

    The other eight auction records were for  Chaim Soutine ($28,165,000);  Peter Doig ($25,925,000); Jean Dubuffet ($24,805,000); Jean Michel Basquiat ($13,605,000); Cady Noland ($9,797,000); Robert Delauney ($2,405,000); Diane Arbus ($785,000) and Rene Magritte ($5,429,000) a world auction record for a work on paper.

    (See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for May 7, April 17, April 15, April 10 and March 25, 2011)

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    THOMAS HART BENTON AT OLYMPIA FAIR IN LONDON

    May 11th, 2015

    Masterpieces by great American painters of the Dust Bowl era from the Rex Sinquefield collection feature as the special guest exhibition at the 43rd Olympia Art and Antiques Fair in London from June 18-28.  Brought to the UK for public exhibition for the first time outside the US, the selection will include paintings and works on paper from seminal artists from American history, including Thomas Hart Benton, Joe Jones, John Atherton, John Rogers Cox and Steuart Curry.  Organisers are confident that the work of these Depression era American masters will prove a revelation to London audiences.

    Highlights include a remarkable self-portrait by Thomas Hart Benton previously featured on the cover of Time Magazine; the magazine declared him ‘America’s Regionalist’ in recognition of his extraordinary portrayals of the American Mid-West. Another masterpiece from Benton,  ‘Flood Disaster’ portrays the aftermath of a devastating flood that struck the western half of the state in 1951.   Here is a sample.

    Thomas Hart Benton - Self-Portrait

    Thomas Hart Benton – Self-Portrait

    Thomas Hart Benton - Flood Disaster

    Thomas Hart Benton – Flood Disaster

    John Steuart Curry - The Ne'er-do-well

    John Steuart Curry – The Ne’er-do-well

    John Atherton - Industrial Landscape

    John Atherton – Industrial Landscape

    Carl Wimar - Jolly Flatboatment by Moonlight

    Carl Wimar – Jolly Flatboatment by Moonlight

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    WEBB, HAMILTON, WILKS AT MORGAN O’DRISCOLL ONLINE SALE

    May 11th, 2015

    Work by Kenneth Webb, Letitia Marion Hamilton, Maurice Wilks, Dan O’Neill and William Conor feature in Morgan O’Driscoll’s current online art auction.  The sale runs until May 18.  The catalogue, which is online, lists 325 lots.  Here is a small selection.

    Letitia Marion Hamilton RHA (1875-1964) Yellow Country Lane (2,000-3,000).

    Letitia Marion Hamilton RHA (1875-1964)
    Yellow Country Lane (2,000-3,000).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 2,200

    Maurice Canning Wilks ARHA RUA (1911-1984) Ballynahinch River, Connemara (2,000-3,000).

    Maurice Canning Wilks ARHA RUA (1911-1984)
    Ballynahinch River, Connemara (2,000-3,000).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 1,800

    Kenneth Webb RWA FRSA RUA (b.1927) Lilly Pond (1,200-1,800)

    Kenneth Webb RWA FRSA RUA (b.1927)
    Lilly Pond (1,200-1,800)  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 1,700

    Daniel O'Neill (1920-1974) Figure and Cottage in Landscape (1,500-2,000).

    Daniel O’Neill (1920-1974)
    Figure and Cottage in Landscape (1,500-2,000).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 2,400

    William Conor RHA RUA ROI (1881-1968) Portrait of a Lady (Believed to be Ms A Gowing) (2,000-3,000).

    William Conor RHA RUA ROI (1881-1968)
    Portrait of a Lady (Believed to be Ms A Gowing) (2,000-3,000).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 2,400

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    STRONG COLLECTIONS AT ADAMS HISTORY SALE

    May 10th, 2015
    The backbone for the annual James Adam History Sale in Dublin on May 12 is formed by three strong collections. Books and documents from the late historian Dr.Tony Sweeney – who sought to have the best possible copy of every book or pamphlet shown to have a connection to Ireland pre-1700 – will make up lots 1-279. There are 94 lots of rare Irish maps from two private collectors with estimates from 50 to 8,000.  The rarest maps are by Antonio Lefreri (fl1540-1577) and two examples of early maps of Ireland are estimated at 5,000-7,000 and 6,000-8,0000 respectively.
    The MacManus Carbery collection comprises 22 lots from the Donegal writer Seumas MacManus (1868-1960); his first wife Anna Johnston (1866-1902) whose pen name was Ethna Carbery and his brother Padraic (1864-1929), a successful businessman in Argentina.  He was a supporter of Irish causes and the archive includes important original correspondence from Padraig Pearse, Arthur Griffith, Major John MacBride and others associated with the Irish revival.
    The sale is peppered by a long list of Irish personages from Michael Collins and Padraig Pearse to W.B. Yeats and Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa.  The 824 lots will be sold in two sessions, at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for May 3, 2015).

    Robert Boyle - New experiments physico mechanical touching the spring of the air (600-800).

    Robert Boyle – New experiments physico mechanical touching the spring of the air (600-800).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 950 AT HAMMER

    A gold Davis Cup medal, 1903 won by Harald Segerson Mahony, the last Irishman to win at Wimbledon (1896). (5,000-7,000).

    A gold Davis Cup medal, 1903 won by Harald Segerson Mahony, the last Irishman to win at Wimbledon (1896). (5,000-7,000).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    A section of the direction United States transatlantic telegraphic cable 1874 (500-800).

    A section of the direction United States transatlantic telegraphic cable 1874 (500-800).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 1,100 AT HAMMER

    A rare handbill issue of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic (3,000-5,000).

    A rare handbill issue of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic (3,000-5,000).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 7,500 AT HAMMER

    Antonio LaFreri - Rome Hibernia Sive Irlanda first published in 1560 (6,000-8,000).

    Antonio LaFreri – Rome Hibernia Sive Irlanda first published in 1560 (6,000-8,000).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 6,500 AT HAMMER

    A four page manuscript letter dated 1908 from Padraig Pearse to Padraic MacManus in Argentina appealing for funds to establish an Irish language high school in Dublin 912,000-15,000).

    A four page manuscript letter dated 1908 from Padraig Pearse to Padraic MacManus in Argentina appealing for funds to establish an Irish language high school in Dublin (12,000-15,000).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

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    A LOVE TOKEN AND LADY WILDE’S NATIONALISM

    May 10th, 2015
    The Irish National League banner with a portrait of Parnell.

    The Irish National League banner with a portrait of Parnell.

    A love token and the nationalism of Lady Wilde, Oscar’s mother, proved to be important associations at Whyte’s sale of history and literature in Dublin on May 9. The harp gifted to Maud Gonne by W.B. Yeats sold for a hammer price of 37,000.  Yeats would give recitals of his poems accompanied by Maud Gonne on the harp.  The sale grossed 220,000 and 80% of lots on offer sold.

    The reverse with the embroidered inscription.

    The reverse with the embroidered inscription.

    A Parnellite  marching banner with a distinctive literary connection made a hammer price of 8,000.  The hand painted banner is embroidered with a line from a poem by Speranza, the pen name of Lady Wilde.  It reads:  “Never Country Gained Her Freedom When She Sued On Bended Knee”.  The hand painted and gilt embroidered banner is from  the Carrickedmond, Co. Longford branch of the Irish National League.  The league was founded by Parnell in 1882 to replace the Irish National Land League, which had been suppressed.

    Online sales accounted for one third of the lots sold. Bidders from Ireland competed with bidders in the UK, USA, Canada, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation, China, Hong Kong, Australia and South Africa.

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for April 11, 2015).

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    ROY LICHTENSTEIN’S $50 MILLION ENGAGEMENT AT SOTHEBY’S

    May 8th, 2015

    In the early 1960’s American art went Pop.  Roy Lichtenstein’s The Ring (Engagement) from 1962 is one of the most subtle and complex works from this period, epitomizing as it does Lichtenstein’s hot and cold approach – hot in his choice of dramatic subject matter, cold in its graphic execution and painted just as his first marriage was ending. Estimated at around $50 million the work comes up at Sotheby’s Contemporary Art evening auction in New York on May 12. It is from the collection of Chicago businessman and philanthropist Stefan T. Edlis. Here is a video from Sotheby’s about it.

    UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR $41,690,000

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    HISTORIC ALL-IRELAND HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP MEDALS

    May 8th, 2015

    A collection of three historic All-Ireland Hurling medals won by Kilkenny between 1907 and 1913 and a medal from Clare’s first All-Ireland title in 1914 are among the sporting rarities at Fonsie Mealy’s rare book and collectors sale at the Ormonde Hotel, Kilkenny on May 19.  The John T. Power collection of three nine carat gold medals are each inscribed with the years 1907, 1911 and 1913, Kilkenny’s first three in a row.  The set is estimated at 10,000-15,000.  In 1914 Clare beat Laois in the 15th year of the championship to claim their first All-Ireland Hurling title.  The nine carat gold medal of Celtic Cross design from this championship, inscribed “won by Clare” is estimated at 7,000-10,000.  The catalogue for the sale lists 747 lots and is online.

    The John T. Power All-Ireland medal collection, Kilkenny, 1917, 1911, 1913.

    The John T. Power All-Ireland medal collection, Kilkenny, 1917, 1911, 1913.  UPDATE: THESE SOLD FOR 40,000

    The nine carat gold Clare All-Ireland Hurling Championship title medal from 1914.

    The nine carat gold Clare All-Ireland Hurling Championship title medal from 1914.  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 9,750

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    GORY MEMENTO OF FRENCH REVOLUTION AT WHYTE’S

    May 7th, 2015
    Lot 13 is the Tribunal Criminel death sentence.

    Lot 13 is the Tribunal Criminel death sentence. UPDATE: THIS WAS WITHDRAWN

    A gory memento of the French Revolution at Whyte’s sale of history and literature in Dublin on May 9 is a revolutionary Paris documentary death sentence dated May 21, 1793.  The document headed Tribunal Criminel passes the sentence of death on Manon Jeanne, formerly Baronne de Bois de Vauban. The sentence “Mort” in faded red ink and a large wax seal with the initials RF attached to the lower left hand corner with a green ribbon. The framed lot number 13 is estimated at 800-1,200.

    A Confederate Cavalry sabre from the American Civil War.

    A Confederate Cavalry sabre from the American Civil War.  UPDATE: THIS MADE 220

    An American Civil War Confederate cavalry sabre etched PDL for Peter D. Luneschloss is estimated at 150-200.

    A collection of five coloured maps of Russia and Poland dated 1785-1827 produced in France is estimated at 300-400.  (Update – these were unsold). Lot 57 is a rare 1803 pamphlet broadsheet from John Bull to Brother Patrick in Ireland looking for support against the Corsican imposter estimated at 150-200. (Update – this sold for 200 at hammer).

    A 1915 recruitment poster with a cheerful looking soldier with the words: “Come along boys, enlist today” and suggesting:  “The moment the order came to go forward there were smiling faces everywhere” published by the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee in London is estimated at 100-150. (Update – this sold for 180). There are 388 lots in total and the catalogue is online.

    (See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for May 4, May 2 and April 11, 2015).

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