The strength of the current market for Irish art is in plain view. Around €5 million worth of Irish art was auctioned at James Adam, Whyte’s, de Veres and Morgan O’Driscoll in the past weeks.
The sale of the Hobart collection — mostly made up of Irish art — at Christie’s in November realised more than €7 million. O’Connell Bridge by Jack B Yeats from the collection of Pyms Gallery founders Mary and Alan Hobart sold for £882,200 (€1,055,890) to become the most expensive piece of Irish art at auction in 2024.
At Sotheby’s in London the previous week Sir William Orpen’s dazzling portrait of Mrs Evelyn St George sold for £720,000 (€866,230).
There was excitement around…