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Outstanding paintings by Jack B. Yeats from the collection of Vincent and Jacqueline O’Brien, are to be sold by auction on December 4th at Adam’s in Dublin, Ireland
Amongst the highlights from the Vincent and Jacqueline O’Brien Collection is The Horsemen, painted in 1947 by Ireland’s favourite painter, Jack Butler Yeats, a stunning depiction of horse riders set against the iconic backdrop of Ben Bulben.
Estimated at €500,000-€800,000, this masterful painting showcases Yeats’ unparalleled ability to capture the power and grace of horses, a fitting tribute to O’Brien’s own legendary career in racing.
This exceptional collection offered alongside other important Irish paintings represents a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire artworks with significant cultural and historical provenance. This is an unparalleled opportunity to own a part of the O’Brien legacy.
Associated most with his stunning success in both National Hunt and flat racing, Vincent O’Brien, the legendary Co. Cork-born horse trainer, and his wife Jacqueline, a celebrated author and photographer, were also discerning art collectors. Their art collection features a captivating range of paintings, including spectacular works that reflect Vincent’s deep connection with the equestrian world.
Thomas McGreevy, a former Director of the National Gallery of Ireland wrote :
‘There are no lovelier horses in all painting than Jack Yeats’s. They have a miraculous elegance, and he always loved to paint them when they looked as though mere existence was sufficiently exhilarating’.
Stuart Cole, Managing Director of Adam’s has said :
“This auction joins together two legendary Irish figures of the 20th century - Ireland’s greatest painter, painting his favorite subject, horses, and the other, one of the all time greatest Irish horse trainers and breeders, together in a once in a generation combination”.
Special PREVIEWs of the O’Brien paintings, as well as a selection of other important PAINTINGS included in the December auction will take place in:
Belfast 14th – 15th November
London 18th – 20th November
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John ffrench was an instrumental figure in the design industry in Ireland and a distinguished pioneer of Irish studio pottery.
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"I should declare my hand. I have a weakness for pictures that punch above their physical weight, and for artists who have been quietly underrated for too long. This pair is both. They are intimate enough to live with at close quarters and serious enough to repay any amount of looking. If the market has lately shown signs of catching up with eighteenth-century Irish painting and I think it has, these two small panels feel, to me, like exactly the sort of thing that will look obvious in twenty years’ time."
Adam’s is honoured to present works from the collection of Lord Rossmore in the upcoming Country House Collections auction at Howth Castle on 28th April. It is seldom that an influential Irish family collection that has survived through the generations comes to the open market.
Works Sold at Adam’s Now in the Irish National Collection
A great opportunity to purchase both established and lesser-known artist’s work at an accessible price point, the Online Picture Auction is the first of many sales to be hosted at Adam’s in 2026. It is perfect for those looking to start a collection and the discerning collector alike.
Through this article, let our expert Adam Pearson guiding you to the (re)discovery of the once established Irish painter Richard O’Neill.
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2024 is a year in which Adam’s wants to recognise the key role buying antique furniture and furnishings at auction contributes greatly to the sustainable initiative. In 2019 the Environmental Protection Agency reported stark figures that each year in Ireland 1.2 million reusable bulky items, primarily furniture goes into landfill. Similar to the problem of ‘fast fashion’, the constant production and consumption of new items is leading to rapidly growing waste problem. We want to acknowledge those who are already buying second hand or antique furniture at auction and to encourage new buyers by highlighting the benefits of acquiring affordable, well-made quality items that are built to last.
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James Adam & Sons Ltd, Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers, 26 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,
D02 X665, Ireland
