The first 43 lots of Sotheby’s autumn sale come from the collection of the late David Clarke AO, who concentrated on collecting the finest examples of an artist’s work.
Paintings by Brack, Friend, Whiteley, Drysdale, Nolan are just a few of the most esteemed Australian artists that will go under the hammer on 28 April in Sydney. We expect to see some very fierce bidding, as there are some truly outstanding artworks in the mix of the 111 lots on offer.
Dave’s Faves therefore are:
Lot 2 – Donald Friend, Australian Fantasy, 1964, est. $80,000-$120,000. Friend strikes Gold
Lot 6 – John Brack, Study for First Daughter (1955), est. $15,000-$20,000. Sketch of a sketch of a sketch
Lot 9 – Brett Whiteley, Study for Kingfisher, 1978, est. $350,000-$450,000. She’s got great curves
Lot 11 – Sidney Nolan, Elephant and Waterlilies 1963, est. $80,000-$120,000. Join the Stampede
Lot 20 – Michael Johnson, Ellamatta Ochre 2002-2003, est. $15,000-$25,000. Abstract Heaven
Lot 23 – Russell Drysdale, Landscape (circa 1966), est. $180,000-$220,000. Sublime
Lot 45 – Jeffrey Smart, Bicyclists, Bondi (circa 1963), est. $40,000-$50,000. Get a start into Smart
Lot 46 – Grace Cossington Smith, Garden Bunch 1946, est. $20,000-$30,000. Delightful, delovely, divine
Lot 47 – Donald Friend, The Watchers (circa 1962), est. $18,000-$25,000. Ceylon didn’t just produce great tea
Lot 49 – Jeffrey Smart, Study for Housing Project No. 84 (1970), est. $100,000-$140,000. No, this is not Zetland
Lot 51 – Charles Blackman, Schoolgirl at Gate 1953, est. $120,000-$140,000. Schoolgirl Series ’53 – buy me
Lot 54 – Rah Fizelle, Olive Gatherers (1930), est. $30,000-$40,000. Unsung hero produces heroic painting
Lot 57 – Jeffrey Smart, Study for Miss Amhurst’s First Visit to Rome (1968-1969), est. $70,000-$90,000. Less, less, less = more, more, more
Lot 92 – Albert Namatjira, Haast’s Bluff, est. 15,000-$20,000. Mountain Range Magic
Lot 94 – Ray Crooke, Tobacco Farm, est. $8,000-$12,000. Don’t quit just yet!
Lot 108 – Edward Roper, Kangaroo Hunt, est. $12,000-$18,000. Count the Skippys – win a prize
Lot 111 – Hans Heysen, Travelling Sheep, 1910, est. $20,000-$30,000. Heysen at the height of his powers
You can view all images by visiting Sotheby’s Australia’s website.
If you would like to perform your due diligence before a major purchase, contact us for an independent pre-purchase report. Or give David a ring to discuss works you are interested in on the phone (02 9977 7764).
We will be attending the auction on the night, so can also bid for you.
The Melbourne viewing is on until Sunday, 19 April, at Levels 2 and 9, 41 Exhibition Street.
In Sydney, you can see all works from Thursday, 23 April until Tuesday, 28 April, at 30 & 34 Queen Street, Woollahra.
The auction is held on 28 April in Sydney at the Intercontinental Hotel.