A middle-of-the-road painting? No way...
IT’S not often you see a €1million artwork in the middle of the road... and art lovers could be forgiven for thinking this piece was indeed a Sean Scully masterpiece.
The reproduction of his Double Window painting – one of the greatest living Irish artist’s best works – was held aloft on Kildare Street in Dublin yesterday ahead of the real one being auctioned this month.
The first major work by Scully is the jewel in the crown at a major deVeres Irish Art Auction, to be held online on July 23.
With a guide price of €600,000 to €900,000, it is believed the 1988 oil painting on canvas could pass the €1million mark, as a recent smaller Scully painting sold in New York two weeks ago for just over $1million (€877,000).
Double Window is expected to attract massive interest from around the globe.
Auctioneer John deVere White said: ‘This painting will attract international, as well as Irish, bidders.
‘We’re going to the world with this one. Whether you live in Paris, Hong Kong or New York, you’ll know there’s a major Sean Scully on the market in Dublin. You only have to see it once to know it has presence.’
Dublin’s Hugh Lane Gallery includes a room dedicated purely to Scully – the only living Irish artist to command a truly international reputation. Such is his popularity, there is a waiting list to buy US-based Scully’s oil paintings on the primary market.
At auction, his paintings routinely achieve prices in excess of €1million.
The auction will also include stand-out, museum-quality works by Jack B Yeats, Louis le Brocquy, William Scott, Tony O’Malley, John Lavery and many more.
The July 23 auction will be deVeres’s most ambitious, high-value sale since lockdown.
Taking place purely online, it marks a major turning point in the Irish art auction market. Such is the calibre of the artworks, it is estimated the sale total from just 74 lots will surpass the €2million mark.
DeVeres director Rory Guthrie said: ‘While these online additions allow for enhanced virtual communications with our customers, we have missed seeing our clients, and it’s great to be open to the public again for viewing on Kildare Street.’ Bidding is now open at www.deveres.ie and closes on July 23.