A PAINTING by one of Ireland’s most sought-after artists unearthed on a TV antiques show is to be auctioned.
The Bog Road, by Belfast-born artist Paul Henry, was rediscovered at a BBC Antiques Roadshow earlier this year, where expert valuer Rupert Maas placed £40,000 (€45,000) on the work.
The painting is estimated to fetch up to €60,000 at the “Important Irish” art sale in Adam’s Auctioneers in Dublin on Wednesday.
David Britton, of Adam’s, said such hidden-in-the-attic discoveries are few and far between.
“This picture had been bought directly from the artist in 1938 by Wilfred Toone who was the grandfather of the owner,” said Mr Britton. “Toone and his wife were the founders of the well-known Dublin school, Castle Park in Dalkey in 1904 and we understand the picture has never been seen in public for over 80 years, having remained undiscovered in the family collection all this time.”
Mr Toone gifted the painting to his grandson David, who recently asked his wife to have it valued at the roadshow in Bath because he was too ill to attend himself.