An Antiques Roadshow guest was amazed at the value of two paintings by Irish artist Norah McGuinness that she brought along to view when the program stopped at Ebrington Square in Londonderry during Sunday’s episode.
The guest and her friend were seen standing next to the two artworks, one featuring three black and white birds pecking on the ground against a colorful background and another similar artwork featuring a seagull.
After seeing the artworks, expert Frances Christie said: ‘I was very excited when I saw these two paintings sticking out of your bag because they are unmistakably by Derry-born Norah McGuinness. So probably Derry’s most famous artist of the 20th century.’
The guest explained that she bought them separately when she was drawn to them after noticing them
Frances continued, “I think it’s great that you were able to get two of them because Norah, she was quite a groundbreaking artist for her time.
Shock: An Antiques Roadshow guest was amazed at the value of two paintings by Irish artist Norah McGuinness during Sunday’s episode
Art: She stood next to the artworks, one with three black and white birds pecking on the ground and another similar piece with a seagull
‘She was obviously born here and has spent most of her life in and around Dublin. She went to art school in Dublin, then to London and then to Paris.”
Norah was an Irish painter and illustrator, born in County Londonderry, who was known for painting vibrant and brightly colored landscapes before her death at the age of 79 in 1980.
Frances inspected the paintings and said, “They are both oil on canvas and if you step back and see the bold color combinations she has used in both….”
She pointed to one and said, “Here you see a bright green and red flashing through the composition.”
She walked to the other painting and continued: ‘To the seagull in this painting, that combination of purple and blue and that beautiful ocher sand color.
‘They are combinations that, if you talk about them without the camera, it might sound strange to have purple and ochre, but actually, when you see how she did it, they are absolutely fantastic.
‘Seeing them together you can understand a little why she was chosen to represent Ireland at the (celebration of art and architecture) Venice Biennale in 1950. It was the first time Ireland had ever exhibited there.
“And I think it actually says a lot about her and actually how avant-garde she was, that she, along with her friend Nano Reid, was chosen to represent Ireland for the first time.
Delighted: When I saw the art, expert Frances Christie said: ‘I was very excited when I saw these two paintings sticking out of your bag because they are unmistakably by Norah McGuinness’
Artist: Norah was an Irish painter and illustrator, born in County Londonderry, who was known for painting vibrant and brightly colored landscapes
A touch of colour: Frances inspected the paintings and said: ‘They are both oil on canvas and if you step back, and you see the bold color combinations she has used’
“They really are special and to have them in Derry is even more special.”
The guest explained that she had spent £120 on the painting with the three black and white birds and £600 on the painting with the seagull.
Revealing how she would value them today, Frances priced the seagull painting at between £8,000 and £12,000, and the three birds painting at between £6,000 and £8,000.
Frances joked, “Not too bad for something you saw a while ago!”
Talented: Norah was known for painting vibrant and brightly colored landscapes before her death at age 79 in 1980