US Irish Art Find Revealed

A collection of Irish art is going on sale after being hidden for decades in the United States. Paintings by Jack B Yeats, Gerard Dillon and Louis le Brocquy will be offered through sealed bids in Dublin and Belfast next week. They were acquired in North Carolina from the family of an elderly ex-patriate, battling serious illness. Martin Donnelly, of the Coloured Rain Gallery in Templepatrick, said the paintings were found in storage. "This collection belonged to Malcolm and Meg Brush, who were originally from Dundalk," he said. "Mr Brush's wife died a number of years ago and he's now in a home suffering from Alzheimer's. "They needed to gather some money to pay for his medical bills, went through the contents of his house and found a key to a storage facility. "In there they found a collection of art. The pictures had been tucked away since about 1972." Although the family was seeking to raise around US $50,000, Mr Donnelly and his partner Michael Flanagan of the Emer Gallery in Belfast paid closer to US $1.5m (£750,000) for the works. "The paintings have been rediscovered and repatriated," Mr Donnelly said. "This is the first opportunity to see them since they were taken to the States. "Most were painted in the 40s and early 50s. It's a very important collection." With reserve prices up to £225,000 (331,560 euro) for one of the Yeats paintings, the exhibition, titled Coming Home, will go on display at Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel on Sunday. The following day viewing takes place at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. Offers will only be opened once the second day finishes. (For full source and article click the Headline). Irish Art