Gracing the front cover of the catalogue is and untitled work (Lot 46 ) by New Zealand modernist Bill Hammond (1947 - 2021). Acquired by its current owner from McLeavey Gallery, Wellington, the painting demonstrates Hammond’s superb mastery of his subject. His paintings present his bird-people in a range of surreal scenarios. With his subjects tackling social and environmental issues, conveying messages about humanity and its status as an endangered species. Consistently achieving record prices Hammond’s paintings are highly sought after by collectors in New Zealand and around the world.
The second work of national significance is, Still Life, a large (Lot 52 ) oil by pioneering New Zealand artist Frances Hodgkins. Catalogued in the Complete Frances Hodgkins database (FH0895) the painting was first exhibited in 1947 at the Manchester Art Gallery exhibition, Pictures by Frances Hodgkins, and later acquired by Hodgkins’ dealer Lucy Wertheim (1883 – 1971). As noted by Associate professor Linda Tyler the setting of this painting is likely to be Pound Farm in Higham, Suffolk, the seventeenth century house with a paved and walled garden which had been leased by her friends Cedric Morris (1889 – 1982) and Arthur Lett-Haines (1894 – 1978) since early 1929.
Following on from this, Collapse, (Lot 53 ) powerfully illustrates Lois White’s (1903 – 1984) skill at geometrical life drawing. The painting was acquired directly from the artist by its present Christchurch owner and a preparatory sketch for this work is in the permanent collection of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki.
Cementing the significance of the collection on offer is, a painting by William Hodges (1744 - 1797) titled A Maori Before a Waterfall in Dusky Bay, 1777 (Lot 54 ). In his catalogue essay independent scholar David Maskill writes; ‘William Hodges was the first professionally trained artist to depict New Zealand subjects in the medium of oil painting. He was appointed the official draughtsman for Cook’s second voyage to the Pacific in 1772. During the three-year long voyage Hodges produced dozens of drawings of the places and peoples he encountered. On his return to England in 1775, he was charged with supplying the drawings and paintings to be engraved as illustrations for the official published account of the voyage’.
The painting has been authenticated by Dr Geoff Quilley and is illustrated in The Art of Captain Cook’s Voyages, Volume Two, The Voyage of the Resolution and the Adventure 1772 - 1775 & William Hodges, Cook’s Painter in the South Pacific.
International Art Centre’s Important & Rare Art auction will be held at their Parnell premises on Tuesday 25 July 2023.
