Louis le Brocquy HRHA (1916-2012) – STATES OF BEING 2, 1964 (TRIPTYCH) made €26,000 at hammer
A total of €1.3 million was realised at Whyte’s Irish art sale in Dublin on May 25. The top lot was Dapping on Lough Mask by Paul Henry which made a hammer price of €230,000. Travelling People by Louis le Brocquy made €145,000. Mass in a Connemara Cabin by Aloysius O’Kelly made €40,000 at hammer over a top estimate of €30,000 and a portrait of Daniel O’Connell by Nicholas Joseph Crowley made €29,000 over a top estimate of €8,000. Art by Markey Robinson, Ciaran Clear and Derek Clarke all sold for above the top estimate. Whyte’s say their sale demonstrated a continuing strong demand for art of quality.
Lot 46, Portrait of Poet John Jordan 1958 by Pauline Bewick sold before the auction to a public gallery for €6,000. A number of lots sold after the auction including John Luke’s the Mournes 1939 at €50,000 and Basil Blackshaw’s The Morning Exercise which made €60,000.
The auction room, although sparse, as they all are these days, took over €500,000 worth of the art on offer. Telephone bidders took another €200,000, with on-line bidders taking the balance. There was a 70% selling rate.
(See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for May 8, 14, 19 and 23, 2026)
John Luke – The Mournes at Whyte’s. UPDATE: THIS SOLD AFTER THE AUCTION FOR €50,000.
Art by Paul Henry, Roderic O’Conor and Gerard Dillon will lead the respective evening sales by Whyte’s, de Veres and Adams in Dublin next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. They carry top estimates of up to €200,000. This might create an incorrect impression that collecting Irish art is an exclusive pastime for the rich. In reality nothing could be further from the truth.
What these auctions demonstrate in spades is that art is for everyone and art collecting is too. A quick look at the lowest estimates reveals all. At Whytes work by well known artists like Philip Flanagan, Mark O’Neill, John Butler Yeats, James Brenan and Sir William Orpen are estimated at under €1,000.
A painted plaster female head by Brian Bourke is, at €300-€500, the lowest estimate at de Veres. You can take an under €1,000 pick here from artists like Henry Healy, Sean O’Sullivan, Michael Cullen, Jane O’Malley, Maureen Bushe, Flora Mitchell and internationally renowned Cork ceramicist Sarah Flynn.
Jane O’Malley – Still life by the Sea 2007 at de Veres. UPDATE: THIS MADE €3,400 AT HAMMER
From €500 up to €1,000 at Adams there is art by Frank Egginton, Anita Shelbourne, Harry Kernoff, Imogen Stuart, Sir William Orpen, Martin Gale, Sean McSweeney and plenty more. Work by any of the above mentioned artists will reward study and is capable of setting in motion a lifelong, life enhancing and enriching interest.
Compared to other years estimates at the top end of the scale at these summer art sales are on the low side. Various reasons for this exist. There is in the Irish art market an innate caution. It looks now as if sellers are holding back in the hope of less uncertain times to come. We remain conservative in our approach to art collection, suspicious of the avant garde. A new generation of collectors might forge a change in approach that is long overdue.
On the international side the art market, which is performing strongly this year, is driven by collections like the Mnuchin collection at Sotheby’s which made $163.3 million (€143 million) in New York this month. It was headed by Rothko’s Brown and Blacks in Reds which made $85.8 million (€73.8 million). The sale of the collection of the late investment banker at Goldman Sachs who subsequently became an art dealer was characterised by deep bidding. There was an average of twelve bids per lots from the Mnuchin collection by bidders from 24 countries.
Gerard Dillon – Tea Party at Adams. UPDATE: THIS MADE €1,100,000 at hammer
The sales in Dublin are all on view this weekend and catalogues are online too. The Mournes (1939) by John Luke at Whyte’s must have been on the avant garde side when first shown at the Belfast Museum and Art Gallery in 1946. This colourful landscape is estimated now at €60,000-€80,000. Travelling People from 1945 by Louis le Brocquy (€100,000-€150,000) is one of the more significant works from his Traveller series in which he takes a Modernist approach to an Irish theme. In sharp contrast is Paul Henry’s Dapping on Lough Mask, Co. Mayo, 1928-1936 with an estimate of €150,000-€200,000.
The top lot at de Veres is a Moonwalk screenprint by Andy Warhol (€200,000-€300,000) and the leading Irish lot in the sale is a c1892 Breton Farmstead with Haystack by Roderic O’Conor (€140,000-€180,000).
Set in a cottage in Roundstone Tea Party (1955) by Gerard Dillon leads the auction at Adam’s on Wednesday with an estimate of €150,000-€200,000. Art by Jack B Yeats features prominently in the sale and there is sculpture by F E MacWilliam, Imogen Stuart, Eamon O’Doherty, John Behan and others.
Taken together these auctions – all now on view in Dublin – offer a feast for the eyes and will richly reward close scrutiny. They will not break the bank either.
Victor Richardson – Nohoval Cove at Whyte’s. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Louis le Brocquy (1916-2012) – Travelling People 1945. UPDATE: THIS MADE 105,000 AT HAMMER
This striking oil on hardboard by Louis le Brocquy is among the leading lots at Whyte’s sale of Important Irish Art on May 25. The estimate is €100,000-€150,000. The Traveller series which le Brocquy began in 1945 represented a breakthrough for the artist whose work over the decades involved a varied and deepening exploration of the human condition. For him, the Traveller group experienced exclusion based in prejudices for their difference from settled communities, and for their adherence to their nomadic way of life. Lot 45 at Whyte’s is one of the more significant examples from the series.
The auction, with works by Paul Henry, Jack Butler Yeats, Colin Middleton, Aloysius O’Kelly, Letitia Hamilton, John Luke, Kathleen Fox, Patrick Hennessy, Basil Blackshaw, Daniel O’Neill, John B. Vallely, Peter Curling, Cecil Maguire and many others, is now on view in Dublin.
Paul Henry RHA (1876-1958) – DAPPING ON LOUGH MASK, COUNTY MAYO, 1928-36. UPDATE: THIS MADE 230,000 AT HAMMER
T’is the season which makes this artwork by Paul Henry at Whyte’s sale of Important Irish Art on May 25 seasonal at the height of the fly fishing particularly of the moment in Ireland. Dapping is a traditional fly fishing technique where the fly touches the water while the line remains in the air, favoured on Lough Mask late in the season. The estimate for this work is €150,000-200,000. Early viewing at Whyte’s on Molesworth Street in Dublin gets underway today and the catalogue is online.
Patrick Hennessy RHA (1915-1980) – Portrait of Eva Hempel. UPDATE: THIS MADE 6,000 AT HAMMER
This portrait at Whyte’s auction of important Irish art in Dublin on May 25 stirs up memories of another deeply troubled time in world affairs. The subject of Patrick Hennessy’s portrait, Eva Hempel, was wife of Hitler’s envoy in Dublin Dr. Eduard Hempel. Though not at the time a member of the Nazi party the career diplomat was appointed as ‘Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the German Reich’ in Dublin by Adolf Hitler in 1937. He was pressured to join the Nazi Party in 1938 and continued to represent the Third Reich in Ireland until 1945. Dr Hempel commissioned portraits of each of his family members by the then emerging Cork artist Patrick Hennessy. The portraits were made at Dr Hempel’s official residence on Sloperton Road, Dún Laoghaire and it was to this address that then Taoiseach Éamon de Valera famously called to express the Free State’s condolences following Hitler’s death in 1945. The house was destroyed in an arson attack in the early 1950’s and the remains demolished in 1955.
After the War, Dr Hempel resigned his diplomatic post and the family was granted asylum in Ireland. He was not allowed to work and Eva supported the family by running a confectionary and bakery. Berthold, one of their sons died in Dublin in 1948 from a brain tumour. The family returned to Germany in 1950 where Hempel helped set up a diplomatic service for the new Federal Republic. The portrait remained in the collection of the Hempel family. It was last sold at the estate sale of their collection in Munich in 1994 and has been in a private collection. Lot 38 is estimated at €4,000-6,000. Whyte’s sale will offer 132 lots of Irish art with an overall value of €1.4 million.
A rare photo of the O’Donovan Rossa funeral committee. UPDATE: THIS MADE 900 AT HAMMER
In August of 1915 the funeral of Fenian leader Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa was a rallying point for Irish Republicans, often cited as a precursor to the events of the Easter Rising the following year. The passionate Glasnevin graveside oration by Padraig Pearse finished with the oft quoted words: “Ireland unfree shall never be at peace”. A rare photograph of The O’Donovan Rossa funeral committee is lot 159 at Whyte’s timed online Eclectic Collector sale which draws to a close from 1 pm today. The estimate is €500-€700 for a picture which includes Eamon de Valera, Thomas McDonagh, Seamus Buggy, Arthur Griffith, Cathal Brugha, John MacBride, Countess Markievicz and Tom Clarke. Everyone in it is named. Labour members of the committee not in the photo include James Larkin.
The Eclectic Collector is a fascinating sale. Lot 217 is an account of the death of Michael Collins by Emmet Dalton, who was travelling with him at Beal na mBlath. It consists of eight typewritten pages signed in blue pencil in Dalton’s hand. This unique eyewitness account is thought to be unpublished and is estimated at €2,000-€3,000. More than 500 lots of historical artefacts, manuscripts, documents, photographs, books, militaria, medals, weapons and memorabilia including advertising, sport and entertainment, posters, postcards, coins and bank notes will come under the hammer.
Emmet Dalton’s account of the death of Michael Collins UPDATE: THIS MADE 6,000 AT HAMMER
The signed part of the foundation document of Sinn Fein. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
Lot 143 at Whyte’s Eclectic Collector auction on April 18 – which goes on view in Dublin from today – is a manuscript agreement which confirms the amalgamation of three political units into Sinn Fein. Dated October 21 1906 it is written in Arthur Griffith’s hand and signed by representatives of the National Council, Dungannon Clubs and Cuman na nGaedheal. The attendance is noted as follows.
“At a Conference held at Dundalk on Sunday the 21st October 1906 called at the instance of the Executive of the Dungannon Clubs to discuss the question of a possible Amalgamation between the three organisations at present working on Sinn Fein lines the following delegates were present: ‘National Council: Arthur Griffith, Cole & Sheehan Dungannon Clubs: Messrs Hobson, McCullough & McCartan Cumann na nGaedheal: Messrs Doyle, A. Ingoldsby & O’Brien.”
The estimate for this important historical document is €15,000-€20,000. The party split before the civil war and again afterwards, giving rise to Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. The remaining Sinn Fein organisation continued its association with the IRA. Another split in 1970 led to the modern Sinn Fein party. The other faction became the Workers’ Party.
The sale offers a fascinating array of historical artefacts, manuscripts, documents, photographs, books, militaria, medals, weapons, memorabilia including advertising, sport and entertainment, posters, postcards, photographs, coins, banknotes and other collectibles dating from the 16th century to the 20th century in over 500 lots.
Einis Eoghain (D) by Felim Egan UPDATE: THIS MADE 420 AT HAMMER
With everything from a cool abstract etching by Felim Egan entitled Einish Eoghain to a cheerful oil on canvas of boats at Dunmore East by Henry Morgan the Spring online art sale at Whyte’s offers much to interest collectors. The timed online auction runs until the evening of March 30.
The most expensively estimated lot is a Moonlit Roman Scene with Figures by Markey Robinson (€3,500-€4,500). The sale offers landscapes, seascapes, drawings, woodcuts, racing paintings, abstraction and a self portrait by Damien Hirst composed of a light box and X-rays (€600-€800). A self portrait – Baked bean boy by Bono is estimated at €400-€600. The online catalogue lists 235 lots with estimates from €80 to €4,500.
Boats in Harbour, Dunmore East by Henry Morgan UPDATE: THIS MADE 950 AT HAMMER
Cecil King (1921-1986) – UNTITLED (THRESHOLD SERIES) UPDATE: THIS MADE 750 AT HAMMER
This oil on paper from Cecil King’s Threshold series is lot 103 at Whyte’s Spring online art sale which runs until the evening of March 30. Signed in pencil on the lower right it is estimated at €800-€1,200. Bidding is open for this auction which is on view at Molesworth St. from March 23. There are 235 lots on the catalogue with estimates from €80 to €4,500 and it is online now.
Paul Henry RHA (1876-1958) – LANDSCAPE, CONNEMARA, 1932-5. UPDATE: THIS MADE €115,000 AT HAMMER
What Sean O Faolain described as the special drama of mobile light had returned to Paul Henry’s painting when he made Landscape Connemara. Clouds in the upper third of the composition evoke a sense of enthusiasm and joy. The oil on canvas comes up as lot 17 at Whyte’s sale of Irish and international art on March 9 with an estimate of €120,000-€150,000.
By the early 1930’s Paul Henry had settled into life in Carrigoona Cottage in Enniskerry County Wicklow with his partner, and later his second wife, the artist Mabel Young RHA whom he had first met in 1924. The mid-1920s had been fraught with both marital and financial troubles for Henry but life with Young in Enniskerry reinvigorated the artist. ‘Henry’s palette, like his mood, lightened as his financial and domestic problems faded.’ By September 1934 he was legally separated and it would appear his thirst for inspiration had returned following a holiday in County Kerry.
Included in the sale are works by Henry, Roderic O’Conor, William Conor, Walter Osborne, Aloysius O’Kelly, William Orpen, Mildred Anne Butler, Jack Butler Yeats, Seán Keating, Norah McGuinness, Evie Hone, Daniel O’Neill, Tony O’Malley, Rowan Gillespie and many others. International artists represented in the collection include L. S. Lowry, David Hockney, Frank Bowling, Josef Herman and Maurice Poirson.
