Last year’s Paintings 2000-2002 at the Ulster Museum in Belfast helped boost the artist’s profile among the well-heeled private buyers of Ulster and it is highly likely a good few of them will be heading to Dublin on September 16 for the sale of a rare and early work by Blackshaw at Whyte’s (15% buyer’s premium).
Farm at Boardmills, Co. Down, right, a 16 x 20in (41 x 51cm) oil on board, was painted at Blackshaw’s father’s home c.1952/3, just after he left Belfast College of Art, and has never before been offered on the market. It was purchased directly from the artist by Irene Calvert, former Northern Irish MP and chief welfare officer for Northern Ireland from 1941-45. Mrs Calvert was friendly with a number of prominent Irish artists and opened Blackshaw’s first exhibition at the CEMA Gallery in Belfast in October 1952.
The work will carry an estimate of €15,000-20,000 (£10,000-14,000).
Coming up at Whyte's....
Prices at auction for works by Basil Blackshaw have been slowly creeping up over the past few years and Northern Ireland’s most famous living artist now enjoys international acclaim.
