The Irish Art Market: Strength in Depth
The Irish art market is experiencing a remarkable surge in popularity. Recent auction results clearly demonstrate its strength, attracting both domestic and international buyers.
Record-Breaking Sales
€5 million worth of Irish artwork was auctioned off in recent weeks by James Adam, Whyte’s, de Veres, and Morgan O’Driscoll. This momentum was further fuelled by the sale of the Hobart collection at Christie’s in November. This collection, largely comprised of Irish art, garnered a staggering €7 million.
A highlight was ‘O’Connell Bridge’ by Jack B Yeats, which sold for £882,200 (€1,055,890), setting a new record as the most expensive piece of Irish art sold at auction this year.
Interest and Demand
There was palpable excitement surrounding the sale of the Jacqueline and Vincent O’Brien collection at James Adam earlier this month. Horse paintings by Yeats, originating from the collection of Ireland’s most celebrated trainer, captivated bidders. Despite considerable interest during viewings in London, Belfast, and Dublin, some top lots failed to sell on the auction night.
This initially raised concerns about the market’s trajectory. However, James Adam announced the following day that the top paintings had been sold after the auction, fetching a total of €1.3 million.
One particular notable piece was Orpen’s “Old John’s Cottage,” painted in 1907. This poignant work depicts the interior of a Connemara cabin where Sean and Maire Geoghegan grieved the departure of their granddaughter to New York. It serves as a powerful metaphor for the emotional impact of emigration.
Other notable sales included Paul Henry’s “Killary Bay, Connemara” which fetched €210,000 at Whyte’s, “Old Road, Cahirciveen” by Yeats selling for €160,000 at Morgan O’Driscoll, and “The Sleeping Sea” by Yeats reaching €100,000 at de Veres.
The strong performance of prominent Irish artists such as Yeats, Orpen, Lavery, and Paul Henry is not dampening demand. Instead, a growing volume of artwork is stimulating further interest in the market
A Growing Market
The Irish art market is clearly expanding. The positive economic climate and increased international exposure are both contributing to its success. bidders from England, the USA, Hong Kong, China, Italy, and Spain recently participated in Whyte’s auction. International enthusiasm was also high for the O’Brien collection at Adam’s.
Compared to the international contemporary art market, the Irish art market is relatively conservative and less susceptible to fluctuations.
Current indicators strongly suggest a promising future for the Irish art market.
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