Boyne painting sells for £59,000

A painting depicting a scene from the Battle of the Boyne has been bought by a Belfast art dealer for £59,000.

It is believed to be by Dutch artist Jan Wyck and sold for more than five times the guide price at Whyte's auction, held at the RDS in Dublin.

The oil on canvas painting shows the Duke of Schomberg and William III just before Schomberg's death.

Michael Flanagan, who runs the Emer Gallery, said the decision to buy the painting was based on a gut feeling.

"I do like the picture and think it has great potential, there will be a lot of interest in it," he said.

Mr Flanagan paid almost £71,000 in total at an auction in Dublin after tax and fees were included in the price.

He said the painting would go on show later this year in Belfast after it is restored.

At the auction held by Whyte's in the RDS on Monday night, there was heavy bidding for the painting, which had been expected to fetch, at most, 15,000 euro.

The painting has only recently been attributed to Jan Wyck, who has painted the most famous pictures of the battle, including a portrait of King William on a white horse, held in the National Gallery in Dublin.