Dublin-born Orpen's Nude Girl Reading, estimated at £300,000-500,000 (€420,000-700,000), was painted circa 1921 in Paris and was last seen on the market 30 years ago. It depicts Yvonne Aubicq, daughter of the Mayor of Lille and Orpen's lover, who was the subject of two earlier Orpen paintings.
As well as returning to standalone Irish sales in London, Sotheby's is expanding its footprint in Ireland with a move to larger premises on Molesworth Street, Dublin as the Irish art market returns to growth.
The October sale is Sotheby's first dedicated Irish auction since 2011, when dedicated Irish sales were dropped in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis and collapse of the Irish 'Celtic Tiger' economy.
"Sustainable Growth"
Arabella Bishop, head of Sotheby's Ireland, told ATG that Irish art was now seeing "sustainable growth" with certain Irish artists, such as Paul Henry, bucking the decline in Irish art prices since 2008. "There was a sudden leap [in the Irish art market] during the Celtic Tiger years (1995-2008) but now growth is steadier," she said.
Bishop said that the majority of Sotheby's buyers of Irish art - 71% - come from outside Ireland, with the Irish diaspora in the US and the UK still the core market but with interest from South Korea, Japan and Australia.
"By holding a dedicated sale in London, we pick up buyers who aren't familiar with Irish artists but will fall in love with the piece," Bishop said.
Sotheby's will preview highlights from the Irish Art sale at the RHA (Royal Hibernian Academy) in Dublin from October 8-10 and at private events in Kinsale, Co Cork and in Northern Ireland.
