"Old masters" paintings are enjoying a welcome renaissance in the fickle international art market which might bode well for a powerful painting entitled Golgotha, The Crucifixion on Mount Calvary at Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers on Wednesday - Lot 494 with an estimate of €10,000-€15,000.
Many paintings of the Crucifixion focus on the figure of Jesus but this example features the entire scene of a pivotal event in Western culture and one of the most familiar scenes in religious art. The artist is unknown but the auctioneers believe it is Flemish School and dates from the 16th or 17th century. The painting will be familiar to some - it has been consigned by an unnamed “long-established private Irish institution”. Among other lots also consigned by this vendor is Lot 72, a late 18th/early 19th century carved ivory “Corpus Christi,” Franco-Flemish, mounted on an ebonised crucifix, carved as one piece, and measuring 33cm (13 inches) (€1,000-€1,500).
From a very different artistic tradition but celebrating another key event in the Christian tradition, Lot 507, The Ascension is a 19th century Russian School silver gilt Triptych with arch tops, the glass panel doors enclosing painted brass relief panels and silver gilt fascia, approximately 74cm (29 inches) high, 92cm (36 inches) wide when opened and with assay marks for Russia, 1837 (€6,000-€8,000).
Among the secular art highlights, Lot 364, "attributed to Dirk Maes, Dutch (1659 - 1717)" is of Northern Ireland and depicts "King Billy at the Battle of the Boyne" (€5,000- €7,000);
Lot 339, a 19th century "Italian School after the Antique" white and Sienna marble Bust of "Gaius Julius Caesar" (€4,000 - €6,000);
Lot 371, Portrait of Daniel O'Connell, The Liberator by 19th century English artist Thomas Heathfield Carrick (€4,000-€6,000);
Lot 369, On the Road described as by "a Follower of Peter Paul Rubens, Dutch (1577 - 1640)" (€5,000-€7,000).
Lot 367, a preparatory watercolour study for the very famous Hellelil and Hildebrand, The Meeting on the Turret Stairs by Sir Frederic William Burton is already attracting interest from bidders (€7,000-€10,000).
Art aside, collectors of vintage luggage will be interested in Lot 225A, a large American Hartmann Pathfinder model, folding brass-mounted and leather-bound Trunk Wardrobe, on a turn-table, with the original label (€600 - €800).
Among the furniture, the top lot is Lot 442, is a profusely decorated early 19th century Killarney wood arbutus and marquetry Davenport Desk with the provenance described as “The Property of a Titled Irish Gentleman” (€6,000-€8,000).
Unusual collectibles include Lot 567, a "Tribal Art" carved "Austral Islands Ceremonial Paddle" previously owned Colonel Philip Doyne Vigors, 11th Devonshire Regiment, 19th Prince of Wales Own Regiment who served in Australia, Burma, India, and Canada, and collected antiquities wherever he travelled (€2,000–€3,000);
Lot 571, a late 19th century African rhinoceros horn "knobkerrie" (club) once owned by Victorian adventurer AJ Mounteney Jephson of Mallow Castle, Co Cork (€800 – €1,200);
and, Lot 94, an opium weighing scales, modelled as a crocodile (€80-€120).
Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers, The Chatsworth Spring Fine Art Sale, Wednesday, March 7th in the saleroom at Chatsworth St, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny at 10.30am and online at fonsiemealy.ie. Viewing from 12 noon tomorrow, Sunday, March 4th.
