The Ferry by Walter Frederick Osborne made €490,000 at
de Veres auction in Dublin on Wednesday, the highest price paid for a painting at auction in Ireland this year. The oil-on-canvas, 81cm by 122cm, dating from 1890, depicts the harbour at Rye in East Sussex on the south English coast, and had never appeared at auction. The estimate was €400,000-€600,000. The painting has been in private ownership, in Dublin, since it was acquired from the artist's family in the early 20th century. De Veres said it was bought by "an agent acting for a private Irish buyer and the painting will stay in the country".

Overall, 72 per cent of lots sold and auctioneer Rory Guthrie said "it was great to feel a buzz in the auction room again".

Chicago collector
At Whyte's Irish art sale on Monday, 70 per cent of lots sold with the top price achieved for The Lake by Paul Henry which made €93,000 (€80,000-€100,000). It was bought by a collector in Chicago. Almost half of all registered online bidders were from outside Ireland.

For more results from de Veres and Whyte’s see Auction Results.