Charles William Bush Australia, 1919-89
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About Charles Bush
Charles Bush was born in Melbourne in 1919. He is a painter of landscapes, figures and portraits in oil and watercolours and murals in paint, mosaic and cut steel. He first worked with his father as a signwriter and then studied at the National Gallery Art School, Melbourne, between 1934-1938. Bush then served in the artillery as a camouflage officer, illustrator and publication director during World War II, and official war artist in New Guinea and Timor from 1943-46. After travelling to London on a British Council Grant in 1949 he worked with Meninsky and painted in Italy, France and Spain, including some murals. On his return he was drawing master at the National Gallery Art School, Melbourne, from 1953-54. In 1962 he was a patrner in the founding the Leveson Street Gallery, Melbourne. He retired as gallery director in 1972.
The earliest auction listing we have for Charles Bush is in 1967 and in total 392 works by the artist have been offered for sale, of which 258 (66%) were sold. The highest price recorded for the artist is $7,200 for Self -Portrait with Satchel and Bicycle (Circa 1939 - 1940) sold by Sotheby's in August 2010. This year 6 works have been offered for sale. Works by Charles Bush are held by the Australian War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia and a further seven major public national galleries (see list below).
Charles Bush is listed in the following standard biographical references:
- McCulloch, Alan McCulloch, Susan McCulloch, Emily McCulloch-Childs. The New McCulloch's Encyclopedia of Australian Art. 4th Edition, Aus Art Melbourne & The Miegunyah Press, 2006. Page 300
- Germaine, Max. Artists and Galleries of Australia, Volumes 1 & 2, Third Edition. Craftsman Press, Sydney, 1990. Page 97
- Campbell, Jean. Australian Watercolour Painters: 1780 to the Present Day. Craftsman House, Sydney, 1989. Page 292
- Australian Prints + Printmaking, a database listing printmaking artists from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region based on the print collection of the National Gallery of Australia.
Artists' Resale Royalty
Could the second and subsequent works by this artist sold after June 9, 2010 for over $1,000 be liable for the Artists' Resale Royalty? More info…
Yes, eligible, subject to the artist satisfying the residency test. The artist is alive or has been deceased for less than 70 years. Contact the Copyright Agency for information on the residency test.
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