Charles Goldie’s 1938 portrait of Wharekauri Tahuna is nothing short of an artistic tour de force. In his execution of this work, Goldie deployed the technical finesse which he had perfected over the course of an entire career to maximum effect, allowing him to powerfully express the likeness and mana of Wharekauri Tahuna. This masterful composition titled, Thoughts of a Tohunga: Wharekauri Tahuna a Chieftain of the T?hoe Tribe, 1938 (Lot 32 ) by C F Goldie is set to headline International Art Centre’s Important & Rare Art auction on the 26th of November.
Offered for sale for the first time is Russell Clark’s remarkable composition, Manihera’s Family c.1950 – 51 (Lot 27 ). One of the most important artists of his generation, Russell Clark worked first in advertising and as a commercial illustrator while building a reputation nationally as a painter of international repute. Rare to market, the inclusion of this large scale oil will be sure to ignite collector interest.
A highlight in the auction is Robert Ellis’ 1974 composition, Te Rawhiti IV (Lot 28 ). The composition reflects Ellis’ combined interest in depicting motorways, a now iconic element within his wider oeuvre, and the inclusion of his family’s marae at Te Rawahiti, New Zealand, within his works. The extraordinary marae with unusual pillars for its porch were captured in a series of paintings titled Te Rawhiti by Ellis in the 1970’s. Acquired directly from the artist, the painting is being offered for sale for the first time.
The monumental Andrew McLeod painting, Large Yellow Green Diptych (Lot 31 ), offers something rather unusual in this day and age – a meticulously rendered faux-medieval scene within a forest at night, but brightly lit so as to render visible every detail of feature and clothing of the richly gowned figures (women and men) and the flowers, swords, sculpted dragons and animals with which the scene is liberally populated.
From the monumental to the sublime, Rita Angus’ jewel like composition Westshore, Napier (Lot 25 ) powerfully illustrates the artist’s skill in watercolour. Attending Christchurch’s Canterbury School of Art in 1927, Rita Angus would go on to become highly influential in the development of modern and regionalist art, capturing the identity and presence of New Zealand with sensitive conviction. Simplified yet delineated buildings coloured in steely blue and terracotta hues showcase her particular interest in geometrical structure.
With an outstanding selection of works on offer the Important & Rare Art auction will be on view daily from Tuesday 19 November until the night of the auction on Tuesday 26 November from 6pm.
