The paintings are Jack Butler Yeats’ The Fern in the Area (estimated at £20,000-30,000), Paul Henry's Landscape with Cottage (estimated at £20,000-30,000) and Sir John Lavery’s Portrait de femme au chapeau (estimated at £7000-10,000).
“The remarkable recovery of these paintings has ensured that their fate looks immeasurably brighter,” said Charlie Minter, Sotheby’s Irish art specialist.
The paintings were stolen from a house in County Wicklow in 2014. All three were found the following year stuffed into a bin bag and left in a ditch in Wicklow.
Chubb insurance company had previously paid the original owner for the theft.
Following the paintings’ recovery, Chubb became the legal owner of the works. Their combined estimate of the works is £47,000-70,000.
The works by Lavery and Henry have both appeared at Sotheby’s before in 2001. Lavery’s painting sold from £11,400 and Henry’s for £25,800 including buyer’s premium.
“The Lavery and Henry passed through our doors fifteen years ago, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer them at auction again,” said Minter.
The three paintings will be offered at Sotheby’s Irish Art sale in London on September 13.
