Museum buys Harry Clarke piece at London auction of Irish artworks

A SIGNIFICANT stained-glass work by the renowned Irish artist Harry Clarke is to return to his native Dublin after it was acquired by the National Museum of Ireland yesterday.

The Unhappy Judas was purchased privately for an undisclosed figure, believed to be some €120,000, just minutes before bidding began at the annual Christie's Irish art sale in London.

The work had been in the hands of a private owner but it will now go on display as part of an extension to the National Museum at Collins Barracks in Dublin, almost a century after it was created by Clarke in the city.

Dr Pat Wallace, director of the museum, said it was a magnificent piece of early 20th-century Irish craftsmanship which reflects Clarke's genius.

More than €3.2 million was generated by the Christie's Irish sale, which featured works by Louis le Brocquy, Jack Butler Yeats, Paul Henry and Roderic O'Conor. It offered 168 lots representing Irish art from the 18th through to the 20th century.

A major work by 18th-century Irish painter Nathaniel Hone set a new world auction record for the artist when it sold for €373,900.

Pieces by both le Brocquy and George Barret sold for €305,676, while two 1948 paintings by Jack Butler Yeats sold to private buyers for €198,912 and €183,660.

The sale came in what was seen as an important week for Irish art, the demand for which in recent times has seen many sales records broken. The worldwide credit crunch has generated fears the art market might stagnate and the sales were seen as a strong test of the popularity of Irish art.

Speaking following the sale, Christie's international director of Irish art, Bernard Williams, said a good energy still surrounds Irish art, which he said was "very encouraging" in the current economic climate. "I think the credit crunch has meant people are becoming choosy about what they buy and they are now more willing to wait for better works. Most of the items with a reasonable estimate here sold well, which shows the market is still there," he said.

Another Irish art sale in London, at Sotheby's, on Wednesday evening generated €5.25 million. Works by Walter Frederick Osborne generated €736,595 and €381,304, while a piece by Sir John Lavery sold for €594,478.

Grant Ford, head of Irish art at Sotheby's, said "bidding was selective but demand remains strong for the very best works".