Mossgreen hoping Grandma's Walk will set a new record for a Drysdale.

By , on 22-Jun-2017

Russell Drysdale’s masterpiece Grandma’s Sunday Walk is the major drawcard at Mossgreen’s forthcoming auction of the Alan & Margaret Hickinbotham Collection in Adelaide.

According to the catalogue preview, the painting exhibits the essential characteristics of a classic Drysdale – a set of recognisable outback characters in a landscape pared back to a few generic forms that might be found anywhere on the Australian continent. 

The work carries a catalogue estimate of $1.8 million to $2.2 million and, if the painting sells (with expectations of an artist’s auction record), it will be the sixth more than $1 million estimated work Mossgreen has successfully auctioned – giving the company a 100 per cent strike rate in paintings of this value.

The current record price for a work by Drysdale sold at auction, is $1.89 million (IBP) for Rocky McCormack, which was sold by Sotheby's in Melbourne in 2008.

Russell Drysdale’s masterpiece Grandma’s Sunday Walk is the major drawcard at Mossgreen’s forthcoming auction of the Alan & Margaret Hickinbotham Collection in Adelaide. The work carries a catalogue estimate of $1.8 million to $2.2 million and, if sold it will be the sixth work sold for more than $1 million by Mossgreen.

The auction will be held on June 25, at the National Wine Centre of Australia in Adelaide and follows a national tour.

Mossgreen expects strong interest from collecting institutions and major private collectors as trophy paintings of this nature are now a rare occurrence at auction houses.

Formed over a lifetime, the Hickinbotham family collection is a significant assembly of Australian art and international decorative arts.

Paintings, sculptures, furniture, glass and other collectables were purchased from galleries, at auction, through catalogues and on their many travels.

The auction contains many other gems including a rare 1940s Albert Namatjira Hermannsburg Mission work and the historical Conrad Martens painting that depicts the prestigious Sydney school Ascham in Darling Point in 1855.

Other paintings of note include Charles Conder’s Springtime, Arques-la-Bataille 1899 and Sali Herman’s Woolloomooloo Street Scene with Boys 1976.

Among the antiques are several stand out lots including a pair of Carey’s library globes and a fine Flight and Barr service illustrated in Henry Sandon’s seminal work on England’s most important porcelain manufacturer.

The auction also features a 19th century English mahogany leather insert library desk and a set of four carved limestone Chinese musician figures.

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