Western Australian Art has its own unique and important place in the Australian art world, and this sale brings out some fine examples.
One of the most important works in this auction is ‘A Rare and Important Western Australian Document, with Chart’ (Lot 120) estimated $15,000-$20,000, which takes us back to the earliest periods of Western Australia history in 1829, when the Swan River settlement was first inhabited by our English forbears The document was ordered to be published by the House of Commons in 1839 and includes correspondence between the Colonial Department and various important parties interested in forming a settlement at the Swan River. The map was produced by Captain Stirling’s marine artist, Frederick Garling.
Other great Western Australian works worthy of mention in this sale are two Kathleen Letitia O’Connor’s (1876 – 1968) ‘Still Life’ (Lot 42 ), estimate $8,000 - $14,000 and ‘Still Life with Daisies and Vase’ (Lot 57 ) $8,000 - $10,000. Guy Edward Grey-Smith (1916 – 1981), featured on the cover of the catalogue ‘Untitled’ (Lot 71 ), is signed and dated ’53 lower right, estimated $25,000 - $35,000.
Harald Vike (1906 – 1987), ‘Afternoon Light, Perth Foreshore and Kings Park’ (Lot 89 ) estimated $4,500 - $5,500. Included amongst the Western Australian component of the collection are artworks by Elizabeth Durack, Robert Juniper, William Boissevain and Larry Mitchell.
Further to this, important Australian artists to feature in the sale are: Hans Heysen (1877 – 1968) ‘Gum Trees and Cattle’ (Lot 56 ), signed and dated 1956, lower right, estimated $20,000 – $25,000; Sidney Nolan (1917 – 1992) ‘Landscape VII, Pilbara Series’, c.1982 (Lot 41 ), signed “Nolan” lower right, estimated $18,000 – $26,000; James Waltham Curtis (1839 – 1901) ‘Fleeing the Fire’, 1895 (Lot 58 ), estimated $13,000 – $17,000; Tom Roberts (1856 – 1931) ‘Portraits of Mary Anne Welch and Joseph Welch’, c.1892 – 1893, (Lot 60), estimated $15,000 – $25,000 (2 items) and Donald Friend (1915 – 1989), ‘Bush Picnic’ (Lot 79 ), signed and dated ’86, and inscribed “Bush Picnic”, lower right, estimated $9,500 – $11,500.
Additional works to take note of are by Hugh Sawrey (Lot 32 ), David Boyd (Lot 43 ), Harold Vike (Lot 30 ), Robert Dickerson (Lot 18 ), David Bromley (Lot 47-48) and a small, though impressive, collection of Aboriginal paintings and bark paintings.
All in all this is a well rounded sale for McKenzies, paying tribute to some important Western Australian Artist and offering up a national variety.
