Another secondary market “first timer” is Jeffrey Smart’s Conversation Piece (Lot 36 ), which was painted in 1998 for an Australian Galleries, Melbourne exhibition and purchased from there by the current owner.
Mr Turner said there were six studies for this oil painting in the 18 months leading up to the exhibition and the auction work is estimated at $800,000-$1 million.
“Lot 1 – Margaret Preston’s Mosman Bay Bridge c1920 coloured woodblock print – is one of only two known examples so is extremely rare and we expect substantial interest,” he said. “The other is in Sydney’s John Passmore Museum of Art Collection.”
Likewise for lot 3 – Rick Amor’s only charcoal on paper version of his painting The Waiter 1996.
Strong interest also should centre on John Brack’s Pantomime 1988 (Lot 31 ), which according to Mr Turner at $80,000-$100,000 represents no better value for money for this iconic Australian artist.
“Another major work of his is Reclining Nude 1980 (Lot 35 ) which was exhibited that year at Sydney’s Rudy Komon Gallery and bought by Dr Joan Croll AO in whose collection it has resided ever since,” he said.
Of course, auction goers will probably not be able to go past Brett Whiteley’s major painting Gaugin 1968 (Lot 37 ) whose price is available only on application but is rumoured to be estimated at between $2 million and $2.5 million.
Of the many other artists represented in the 152-lot sale, Howard Arkley’s Discocacti 1986 (Lot 32 ) is worth a look – along with Garry Shead’s Untitled (DH Lawrence series) 1992-93 (Lot 30 ) and Charles Blackman’s Song of the Flute c1982 (Lot 29 ).
The auction will be held on Thursday February 27 at Menzies rooms at 1 Darling Street, South Yarra, commencing at 6.30 pm.
