An Taisce urges Taoiseach to halt Beit art collection sale

An Taisce has called on the Taoiseach to help stop the sale of paintings from the Alfred Beit Collection at auction in London.

Two of the paintings are due to be auctioned today and the rest, including two by the Flemish artist Peter Paul Ruebens, are due to be sold at Christie’s auction house on July 9.

Ian Lumley, the organisation’s heritage officer, said the Taoiseach should co-ordinate a constructive response to halt it. An Taisce has also called for an investigation into the private sale of a painting from the collection earlier this year.