A Feast of Irish Art at Whyte’s and James Adams’ forthcoming Important Irish Art Sales

Art Lovers – at least those with deep pockets – are spoilt for choice this coming week with Whyte’s sale of “Important Irish Art” at the RDS on Monday 27th May followed by James Adams sale on Wednesday 29th May also aptly titled “Important Irish Art”.

Both sales contain much to drool over and if only you hadn’t bought that second apartment in Bulgaria….Anyway, for those still with some spare cash, Whyte’s have some attractive early works by Paul Henry with relatively affordable estimates see video below. Also included are many landscape paintings by artists such as Frank Egginton, William Percy French, James Humbert Craig, Maurice Canning Wilks etc. many with very realistic estimates. Check out the sale details/catalogue links here: http://www.whytes.ie

James Adams sale at their St.Stephen’s Green salerooms on Wednesday 29th has more works by Paul Henry but this time with seriously high estimates – no Nama refugees need attend! Lot 21 a superb oil on canvas ‘The Potato Diggers’ has never been seen at auction before and carries a serious €250,000.00 – €350,000.00 estimate. Four other Paul Henry works make it into the top seven lots of the sale price-wise but none are as special.

Lot.21. ‘The Potato Diggers’ by Paul Henry. Est. €250,000-350,000

Once away from the top ten lots, prices come down from the stratosphere to more affordable levels and include some nice William Percy French watercolours – just a pity that so many of his works are so small! Better value, and covering the same ground, are several larger works of more recent origin by Frank Egginton – Lot.169., below, carries a modest €500-700 estimate. Obviously the name doesn’t have the same cachet but if you’re buying for art rather than investment they are worth a look.