LONDON.- The B.J. Eastwood Collection: Important Sporting and Irish Pictures took place live at Christie’s London on 9 July, achieving a total of £14,187,750. The B.J. Eastwood Collection comprised 30 lots, representing BJ’s prized collection of the last 50 years which showcased his great love of equestrian painting and Irish art. Works ranged from 18th century sporting pictures through to defining representations of Munnings’ oeuvre, to an extraordinary group of Yeats illustrating key periods of his work. Other leading examples of Irish Art were included in the sale, with works by Walter Frederick Osborne, Sir William Orpen, Roderic O’Conor, Paul Henry, Sir John Lavery, and Gerard Dillon.

The Collection achieved more than double its pre-sale low estimate, and the leading lot was Sir Alfred James Munnings, P.R.A., R.W.S. (1878-1959) The Vagabonds, (estimate £700,000-1,000,000) which realised £1,942,500. The sale also achieved a new artist record for (lot 12), Paul Henry, R.H.A. (1876-1958) Mountains and Lake, Connemara, painted in 1934, (estimate £120,000-180,000), realising £622,500.

Charles Cator, Deputy Chairman, Christie’s International, said ‘We could not be more delighted to witness such strong results for The B.J. Eastwood Collection at Christie’s London today. We feel certain that BJ would be flattered by the enormous interest shown from collectors in his much prized and extraordinary collection of paintings which he so enjoyed throughout his life’.

John Stainton, Deputy Chairman, Old Master & British Paintings, and Nicholas Orchard, Head of Modern British & Irish Art commented ‘The sensational pictures offered today from The B.J. Eastwood Collection rightly generated enormous interest from clients across the world. Over 70% of works sold for over their high estimate, and demand was equally strong for the Sporting and Irish pictures in the sale. Of particular note was the group of nine works by Munnings which were all very keenly competed for, and (lot 12), Paul Henry, Mountains and Lake, Connemara which achieved a record for the artist today realising £622,500 against a pre-sale estimate of £120,000 – 180,000’.

Barney Eastwood was born in Northern Ireland in 1932, and his dedication to sport began at an early age. Eastwood was a talented Gaelic football player and was a member of the Co. Tyrone team which won the All Ireland Minor Championship in 1948. Both horse and greyhound racing were also significant sporting passions throughout his lifetime, and together with his great friend and erstwhile business partner Alfie McLean, he had many successful runners over the years.

Other highlights include:

(Lot 13) Sir Alfred James Munnings, P.R.A., R.W.S. (1878-1959), The Vagabonds, (estimate £700,000-1,000,000) realised £1,942,500;

(Lot 5) Jack Butler Yeats, R.H.A. (1871-1957) A Summer Day, painted in 1914, (estimate £500,000-800,000) realized £1,162,500.

(Lot 22), John Fergus O’Hea, (c.1838-1922), Punchestown Races 1868, (estimate £100,000-150,000) realised £694,500.

(Lot 25), Sir Alfred James Munnings, P.R.A., R.W.S. (1878-1959), Point-to-Point, (estimate £30,000-50,000) realised £412,500.