Auctioneer Ian Whyte describes A Sunny Day, Connemara from circa 1940 as “the best ever Paul Henry landscape”. More importantly it featured as the signature work on the dust jacket of Henry’s autobiography: Henry, Paul, An Irish Portrait in 1951, having been chosen by the artist himself. Latterly it also graced the front cover of the artist’s Catalogue Raisonne; Paul Henry by Dr SB Kennedy in 2000. Prices for iconic Paul Henry paintings have risen in recent years; with The Potato Diggers achieving €400,000 against a reserve of €250,000–€ 350,000 through Adam’s of St Stephen’s Green in 2013. The fact that Henry chose this painting as the cover for his autobiography could well create extra interest for this iconic work.

Source: The Irish Times September 19, 2020 05:01 UTC