Dublin – A superb collection of 20 works by Norah McGuinness consigned directly from her family was 100% sold in The Irish Sale: Vision & Voice. Works by Mainie Jellett (1897-1944) and Mary Swanzy (1882-1978), who were among Ireland's first abstract painters, also performed well. Swanzy's South of France landscape was the top lot achieving €43,520 more than double its original estimate of €20,000-30,000. The sale made €336,589 in total with 100% sold by value.

Kieran O'Boyle, Bonhams Head of Ireland and Northern Ireland commented, "We are delighted with this result. Jellett, Swanzy and McGuinness were pioneers who blazed a trail for female artists and for Modernism in Ireland. It is no surprise that their work attracted significant interest."

Pioneers of a national avant-garde

All three artists were pioneers of a national avant-garde and were strong supporters of modern art in Ireland. They all studied at Dublin's Metropolitan School of Art and were widely travelled, influenced by the work of cubism, fauvism, symbolism and many of the modernist movements prevalent at that time. Their works are held in many prestigious collections both in Ireland and the UK. Jellett together with McGuinness co-founded the Irish Exhibition of Living Art in 1944 which was formed in opposition to the dominance of more traditional institutions such as the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) and the National College of Art in Ireland.

Highlights of the Irish Sale included:

• Letitia Marion Hamilton R.H.A (Irish, 1878-1964) Ca' d'Ora (Palazzo Santa Sofia) Venice, 56 x 66 cm sold for €33,280 more than six times its estimate of €5,000-7,000.

• Norah McGuinness (1901-1980), Snow on the hills, Rockbrook, Co. Dublin, oil on canvas, 60 x 42.5 cm sold for €20,480 more than double its estimate of €10,000-15,000.

• Mainie Jellett (1897-1944), Composition, oil on canvas, 1936, signed and dated 'M Jellett, 36', 96.5 x 81.2 cm, sold for €17,920.

6 December 2024