The Alfred Beit Foundation looks ready to halt the sale its Old Master paintings, which are due to be auctioned at Christie’s in July. The seven pictures have a total estimate of £5.3m to £7.9m, and the money raised would go towards an endowment to care for Russborough, one of Ireland’s greatest country houses, south-west of Dublin. In 1976, Alfred Beit donated the house and its art collection to the charitable foundation.
On 9 July, Christie’s Old Masters evening sale in London includes paintings by Rubens and Guardi that once hung in Russborough. News of the forthcoming auction generated a criticism in Ireland, especially from heritage groups.
The chairwoman of the Alfred Beit Foundation, Judith Woodworth, issued a statement on Monday 22 June, saying that she had received “a generous proposal on behalf of some private Irish donors for the possible purchase of artworks which are in the upcoming Christie’s sale”. If this proposed private sale proceeds, the pictures would presumably be lent for long-term display at Russborough or the National Gallery of Ireland. At this stage the donors have not been named. The Irish arts and heritage minister, Heather Humphreys, has now called for the London sale to be postponed.
Woodworth says that she will recommend that her board “enters into negotiations with Christie’s to arrange that the sale is postponed”, withdrawing the works from the July sale. The Irish Times reported that this would involve a cancellation fee of £1.4m for breaking the contract with Christie’s, although this could be subject to negotiation. It is unusual for such fees to become public knowledge, and (if confirmed) the sum would represent 21% of the middle estimate.
A meeting of the Beit foundation trustees has now been held and their announcement is expected on Wednesday, 24 June. If the sale is postponed, then the proposed purchase by a group of donors will need to be arranged by October, otherwise the auction is likely to be resumed to avoid a financial crisis at Russborough. A Christie’s spokesman says they are aware of the foundation’s statement and will be “discussing further with them”.
UPDATE: On 24 June the Alfred Beit Foundation announced the postponement of the Christie's sale. It also decided to seek a meeting with the arts and culture minister, Heather Humphreys, "to establish the Government's support for Russborough for the future".
