Leech, Yeats and Henry lead the way

ADAM’S ART AUCTION in Dublin on Wednesday attracted a large attendance supplemented by telephone and internet bidders. But the star attraction, a painting titled Indoors, Outdoors by Louis le Brocquy, described as an “early masterpiece”, failed to sell. The 1951 painting, which once belonged to Hollywood actress Dana Wynter at her Wicklow home, had been estimated at €500,000-€800,000 but bidding stalled at €440,000.

That aside, Adam’s was pleased with the overall results and 76 per cent of the lots – paintings, sculpture and tapestry – sold. Paintings by Jack B Yeats and Paul Henry dominated the results list and the two artists accounted for five of the 10 highest prices achieved. (See table, right).

However, the top slot went to Interior of a Cafe by William John Leech, which sold for its lower estimate of €200,000. It was bought by fine art auctioneer John de Vere White on behalf of an unnamed client – 104 years after the painting was first sold in Dublin for £63.

Among other lots, The Nun’s Cove by Norah McGuinness, depicting a group of nuns on a day out, sold for €18,000 (slightly below the estimate of €20,000-€30,000). A drawing by Walter Frederick Osborne titled A Bookseller By The Liffey made €16,000 – greatly exceeding its estimate of €4,000-€6,000. An oil-on-canvas titled Unloading the Catch, Loughshinny Harbour by Patrick Leonard was estimated at €10,000–€15,000 but was the subject of strong bidding and made €25,000. - MP

Results at Adam’s

1 William John Leech: Interior of a Café, €200,000

(€200,000- €400,000)

2 Jack B Yeats: Good Evening Men, €180,000 (€200,000- €300,000)

3 Paul Henry: Fishing Boats, Dugort, €125,000

(€100,000 - €150,000)

4 Jack B Yeats: Bound for the Islands. €48,000

(€50,000- €80,000)

5 Louis le Brocquy: Eden (tapestry) €36,000

(€20,000-€30,000)

6 Colin Middleton: Seamans Wife, €32,500 (€40,000- €60,000)

7 Paul Henry: Cottages in Connemara, €32,000 (€25,000-€35,000)

8 Jack B Yeats: A Hooker and a Nobbie, €31,000 (€30,000- €50,000)

9 FE McWilliam: Woman of Belfast (sculpture) €27,000 (€6,000-€8,000)

10 William Guy Wall: A View on the Boyne, €26,000

(€5,000-€7,000)