On 27th August in Melbourne, Deutscher + Hackett offer a tightly curated sale of 52 lots of Important Australian Fine Art. This is more than a deserved title for this outstanding selection of a Who’s Who of Australia’s leading artists of the late 19th and 20th century.
The pre-sale estimates are $8,246 million to $11,562 million, an indication of the serious level of the quality of art on offer, bearing in mind that there are just 52 lots.
In doing so, Deutscher + Hackett continue to re-dress the imbalance of values in the art of women artists, who represent 14 lots in this sale.
The auction starts with two stunning light-filled interiors by Bessie Davidson. These works formed part of the same American collection since they were exhibited in 1924 at the Salon the Tuileries in Paris, the artist’s home for over 40 years until her passing in 1965.
So it is only very recently in line with the increasing awareness of women artists that Davidson’s art has found its way into our State Galleries – for example only in 2020 into the National Gallery of Victoria and just two years ago in 2023 into the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
A female artist who is a much more familiar name occupies lots 3 and 4: Grace Cossington Smith’s fabulously important early “The reader (the school cape)” from c. 1916 and the 1937 voluptuous vista “House with golden trees (Pink house)”.
The other female artists in the D+H sale are Del Kathryn Barton, Sally Gabori, Nora Heysen, Emily Kngwarreye, Mirka Mora, Bronwyn Oliver and Margaret Olley, ranging from sculpture to painting, including important Indigenous artworks.
You can view all artworks in Sydney until Sunday, 17 August, at 36 Gosbell Street, Paddington.
In Melbourne, preview is from 21 to 26 August at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra.
The auction is held on 27 August, 7 pm, at 105 Commercial Road.
David was spoilt for choice for his Dave’s Faves:
Lot 2 – Bessie Davidson, Interior, c1924. Oil, 60.5 x 73 cm, est. $250,000-$350,000.
Wicker Wonder
Lot 3 – Grace Cossington Smith, The Reader (the school cape), c.1916. Oil, 32 x 24 cm, est. $400,000 – $600,000. Early Girly
Lot 6 – William Dobell, Young Man Sleeping, c1936. Oil, 27 x 44.5 cm, est. $180,000 – $280,000. A Dream of a Picture
Lot 7 – Roy de Maistre, Two women in a boat, c.1935. Oil, 64 x 52.5 cm, est. $50,000 – $70,000. Mods & Rockers
Lot 12 – Albert Tucker, Lunar Landscape, 1957. Synthetic polymer paint, 96 x 131 cm, est. $60,000 – $80,000. Moon out of MOMA
Lot 14 – Fred Williams, Burnt Hillside, 1968-69. Oil on canvas, 91.5 x 106.5 cm. In the Pink
Lot 16 – Jeffrey Smart, Study for Approach to E.U.R, 1970. Oil on board, 31 x 48 cm, est. $120,000 – $160,000. A Road to Somewhere
Lot 18 – Brett Whiteley, The Magpie, 1976-77. Oil on canvas, 91.5 x 91.5 cm, est. $450,000 – $650,000. I Bagsie this Magpie
Lot 25 – Jonny Niesche, Let the Shadow come, 2019. Dye sublimation print on polyester voile, auto-paint on aluminium, 160 x 125 cm, est. $200,000 – $300,000. Nothing Niche with Jonny
Lot 27 – Emily Kngwarreye, Untitled (Awelye), 1993. Synthetic polymer paint, 152 x 90 cm, est. $70,000 – $90,000. It’s Great to be at the Tate
Lot 35 – Roy de Maistre, Garden under Snow at Ecclestone Street, Pimlico, 1947. Oil on canvas, 57 x 72.5 cm, est. $30,000 – $40,000. Your Passport to Pimlico
Lot 52 – Max Dupain, Sunbaker, 1937. Silver gelating photograph, 37.5 x 39.5 cm, est. $25,000 – $35,000. 🌞🌞🌞
You can also preview online at the Deutscher + Hackett website.
Contact us if you would like discreet independent advice on any of the lots.
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