Yeats painting expected to fetch up to £80k at London auction
A work by one of Ireland’s most sought-after artists is to be sold at auction in London.
Jack Butler Yeats’ 'Island Men Returning', which depicts two currachs returning to shore, draws on the painter’s love of scenes from the west coast.
Dated 1919, it is among the top lots being sold at Bonhams salerooms as part of next month’s British and Irish Art Sale. It has a guide price of £60,000-80,000.
Also up for sale is a work by popular artist Paul Henry. 'Boats At Sea', finished in 1936 and signed on the bottom left corner of the painting, has a similar guide price to the Yeats.
Penny Day, Bonhams head of Irish art, said: “We are thrilled to be offering these two exceptional works by such stellar Irish names.
“Both featuring boats at sea and never before offered at auction, they present a golden opportunity to acquire a fresh and rare marine painting by two of Ireland’s most famous artists.”
Yeats is considered the most important Irish artist of the 20th century and was the first to sell a work for more than £1 million.
Henry is regarded as one of Ireland’s first post-impressionist artists and Ireland’s leading landscape painter.
The auction takes place on May 28.
