Strong demand at Dublin art sales

Up to 80 per cent of lots sold at Whyte’s, de Veres and Adam’s

Man In A Train, Thinking by Jack B Yeats (right) made €220,000
Man In A Train, Thinking by Jack B Yeats (right) made €220,000

Three major art auctions in Dublin this week – on three consecutive evenings – saw strong demand in all price brackets. Following Whyte's auction in the RDS on Monday evening, where 80 per cent of lots sold, auctioneer Ian Whyte said "this was a further indication that the improvement in the demand for art of quality continues".

The highest price was achieved for Being – an oil-on-canvas dated 2000 – by Louis le Brocquy which failed to reach its low estimate but sold for €78,000 (€80,000-€100,000. Among other highlights: Connemara by Paul Henry exceeded its top estimate and made €66,000 (€40,000-€60,000); as did Harvest Light by Tony O' Malley which made €34,000 (€20,000-€30,000). Portrait of Dan O'Neill by Gerard Dillon made €21,000 (€20,000-€30,000); and, Airman Of Inisheer by Margaret Clarke €7,500 (€5,000- €7,000). For full results see whytes.ie

On Tuesday evening at De Veres, where 80 per of lots also sold, the top lot was Man In A Train, Thinking by Jack B Yeats which made €220,000 – within its estimate (€200,000-€300,000) but €75,000 less than it made when it last appeared at auction, in Adam's auction in 2006 when it sold for €295,000. Among other highlights: Les Enfants et les Ombres by William John Leech made €56,000 (€40,000- €60,000); A Hooker and a Nobbie by Jack B Yeats €40,000 (€40,000-€60,000); A Sunny Morning in the Fields, Pont-Aven by Walter Frederick Osborne €38,000 (€20,000-€30,000); and, Cottages, Connemara by Paul Henry €27,000 (€20,000- €30,000). De Veres auctioneer Rory Guthrie described the results as "outstanding" and said they'd had "record viewing numbers". For full results see deveres.ie

Metal Fatigue by John Doherty made €4,200
Metal Fatigue by John Doherty made €4,200

On Wednesday evening, Adam's also sold 80 per cent of lots. The highest price was for Still Life Study with Fruit and Pottery on a Mahogany Table by Roderic O'Conor which made €48,000 – at the top end of the estimate (€30,000-€50,000).

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After the auction David Britton of Adam's said this was "the third successful sale in Dublin this week which shows that demand is back".

Both paintings by Jack B Yeats sold: Top of the Fall for €36,000 (€25,000- €35,000); and, The Creole €35,000 (€30,000 –€40,000).

The Portrait of Pamela Mitford by French artist Paul César Helleu, which had been given as a gift by the sitter to a Tipperary clergyman in the late 1950s made €20,000 (€20,000-€30,000). The Pillar, a bronze and stone sculpture by Rowan Gillespie made €19,000 (€15,000 – €20,000). Among other highlights: A Horse Alone by Patrick Hennessy made €9,000 (€7,000-€9,000); Metal Fatigue by John Doherty €4,200 (€3,000- €5,000); A Summer's Day (watercolour) by Mildred Anne Butler €7,500 (€8,000-€12,000). For full results see adams.ie