In February 2007, Richard D. Hatch & Associates held a sale that most auction houses only dream about. It had been consigned a treasure trove of modern Irish art – about 40 pieces, from the estate of Alan Breedon Malcolm Brush, born near Dublin, Ireland, in 1918. The paintings sold for nearly $1.5 million, and the sale overall topped $2 million – a record for the firm.
So imagine Richard Hatch’s delight when he was contacted about four more important Irish works belonging to Mr. Brush that had been left with a neighbor in Atlanta for safekeeping. The group includes Louis Le Brocquy’s “Traveler Man” (1947) (Illustrated); Colin Middleton’s “Teresa” (1948); an abstract oil by Neville Johnston; and a painting by Thurloe Connolly. They will all be auctioned September 26-27.
“I feel like lightning struck twice in the same spot, and how often does that happen?” asked Mr. Hatch. He said the paintings were purchased at the Victor Waddington Galleries in Dublin, Ireland, prior to Malcolm and his wife Meg’s moving to the United States in the early 1950s. Both were great patrons of the arts, befriending many of the top Irish artists of the period and purchasing their works.
Louis Le Brocquy, born in 1916 and still painting to this day, is known as “the elder statesman of Irish art.” In the February 2007 sale, four watercolors from the artist’s ‘Tinker’ Period’ (1945-1948) sold for a total of $317,500. At a recent sale of Irish art held by Sotheby’s in London, three Le Brocquy watercolor paintings finished in the top ten lots. “Traveler Man” is expected to bring $30,000-$50,000.
Colin Middleton (1910-1983) was probably the most eclectic Irish painter of the 20th century. He moved easily between Cubist, Surrealist and Expressionistic styles. Mr. Middleton was largely self-taught and quite prolific, producing hundreds of works in the 1930s alone. At last year’s Hatch auction, two of his works sold for $70,000 each. “Teresa” is expected to change hands for $30,000-$50,000.
The abstract oil painting by Neville Johnston is estimated to bring $4,000-$6,000, while the abstract oil by Thurloe Connolly (Illustrated) is expected to fetch $3,000-$5,000.
Start times for the September sale will be 5 p.m., Friday, September 26, and 11 a.m., Saturday, September 27. Previews will be held Thursday and Friday, from 1-5 p.m., and on Saturday morning from 9:30 a.m. until the start of sale. Richard D. Hatch & Associates conducts its sales in a spacious, well-appointed 11,900-square-foot facility in Flat Rock, just off Interstate 26, near Hendersonville.
Richard D. Hatch & Associates is celebrating 28 years of consistently impressing its customers with quality consignments and exciting sales. The firm is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call (828) 696-3440, or e-mail them at hatchauctioninfo@yahoo.com. To learn more, visit them online at www.richardhatchauctions.com
Source:
Irish Paintings for North Carolina Auction
