FOUR WORKS BY PAUL HENRY, ONE OF IRELANDS FINEST ARTISTS, FOR SALE AT BONHAMS IN LONDON
UNRECORDED WORKS BY PAUL HENRY POSSIBLY PRESENTED TO AMERICAN BY PEOPLE OF IRELAND FOR HIS WORK ON CONSTITUTION FOR SALE AT BONHAMS
BONHAMS OFFER A TOTAL OF FOUR PAUL HENRY PICTURES
Two paintings by the distinguished Irish artist, Paul Henry R.H.A. (1876-1958) believed to have been presented to Clemens J. France, a member of the US Committee of Enquiry on Conditions in Ireland, by the people of Ireland in gratitude for his work on the Constitution of the Irish Free State, circa 1922, will be sold by Bonhams on November 14 in London.
The subjects of the two paintings are beautiful landscapes probably showing scenes near Achill Sound and Dugort Bay, Achill Island.
’A scene near Achill sound’ signed 'PAUL HENRY.' (lower left) an oil on canvas, 40 x 60.8cm. (15 5/6 x 23 5/6in.) is estimated to sell for £40,000-60,000. Probably a scene near Achill Sound and can be dated 1916-19 on stylistic grounds.
‘Dugort bay, Achill island’ signed 'PAUL HENRY' (lower left) oil on canvas 38 x 45.7cm. (15 x 18in)estimated to sell for £30,000-50,000. It is probably a view of Slievemore, Dugort Bay, Achill and can be dated 1918-22 on stylistic grounds.
A third canvas by Paul Henry in the sale comes from a different private collection. Titled Old-Age Pensioners and painted in 1911, it shows two elderly women muffled up against the cold. A rare and important figurative work, it is estimated to sell for £100,000-£150,000.
A fourth Paul Henry is The Long Road, which was exhibited in Belfast in 1918, and is expected to fetch £30,000-50,000.
Penny Day, Head of Irish Art at Bonhams, comments: “Bonhams were proud to achieve the highest price at auction for Paul Henry in 2011 (£175,250 for Running for Shelter). Following on from that, it is a privilege to be offering these four superb examples to the market. The exciting discovery in America of the two trademark landscapes coupled with the endearing Old-Age Pensioners and The Long Road, means this group presents a wonderful opportunity to acquire a significant work by one of Ireland’s finest artists.”
Paul Henry was an Irish artist noted for depicting the west of Ireland landscape with a spare post-impressionist style.
In the 1920s and 1930s Paul Henry was Ireland's best known artist, one who had a considerable influence on the popular image of the west of Ireland. He created a large body of fine images whose familiarity is a testament to its influence.
A painting by Paul Henry was featured on the BBC show, The Antiques Roadshow in November 2006. The painting was given a value of approximately £40,000 - £60,000 by the Roadshow. However it sold for an astonishing €260,000 in a joint Bonhams and James Adams sale of Irish art.
Bonhams
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street and Knightsbridge; and a further three in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the USA; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments go to www.bonhams.com.
