An original oil painting by the renowned Irish artist Colin Middleton (1910-1983), titled Teresa and executed in 1947, sold for $71,500 at a multi-estate sale held Sept. 26-27 by Richard D. Hatch & Associates. The painting was the top lot in an auction that grossed just under $500,000 and saw over 1,400 lots change hands. Over 250 people attended the two-day event in person.

Middleton was probably the most eclectic Irish painter of the 20th century, moving easily between Cubist, Surrealist and Expressionistic styles. He was self-taught and prolific, producing hundreds of works in the 1930s alone. At a Hatch auction held last year, two of Middleton’s works sold for $70,000 each. Teresa was expected to fetch about $50,000, but bidding was lively and competitive.

Auction info www.richardhatchauctions.com

Posted: 10|27|08 at 11:29 am. Filed under: Auction News.