One of the most important examples of modern Australian art to appear at auction in many years – and with a catalogue estimate of $2.5 million to $3.5 million – the painting was purchased journalist, author, writer and critic Clive Turnbull soon after the artist’s 1942 Macquarie Galleries, Sydney exhibition and held in the family ever since.
Turnbull was a highly respected writer who worked on the Argus newspaper before in 1932 joining the Melbourne Herald where 10 years later he was appointed art critic. So keen was his interest and knowledge of contemporary art that the newspaper’s chief Sir Keith Murdoch consulted Turnbull about his own art purchases.
Going to the Pictures is typical of Drysdale’s depiction of outback Australia at that time and, as one of his best paintings, was included in every major exhibition dedicated to his oeuvre since then, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 1960 and the National Gallery of Victoria in 1997.
Another top work is Fred Williams (1927-1982) Hillside at Lysterfield II 1967 (Lot 8 ) which, from the mid-1960s, was near his home and a regular destination for outdoor painting trips.
The crowning work at Deutscher and Hackett’s Twenty Classics of Australian Art auction to be held on Wednesday November 11 is Russell Drysdale’s 'Going to the Pictures', 1941 (above).
With its counterpart, Hillside at Lysterfield I, the painting highlights Williams’ observation of the changing seasons through variations of colour.
There are several works that should have no trouble attracting attention including Howard Arkley’s (1951-1999) Eastern Suburbs Pink Home 1991 (Lot 4 ), featuring the artist’s singular fascination with the suburban home.
Confronting is Paul Quilty’s Paul’s Falcon 2008 (Lot 2 ) – a powerful rendition of the muscle car the Ford Falcon XA GT coupe.
Other works of note include Rosalie Gascoigne’s (1917-1999) Ledger 1992, Arthur Streeton’s (1867-1943) Blue Lagoon Fringed Round with Palaces c1908 (Lot 10 ) and Ian Fairweather’s (1891-1974) Figure Group V 1968-69 (Lot 7 ).
Jeffrey Smart (1921-2013) also features with The Traffic Island 2009 (Lot 19 ) while a painting by Eugene von Guerard (1811-1901) painted in 1847 before he migrated to Australia entitled Die Berge von St Tenadio im Neapolitanischen (The Mountains of St Tenado in the Naples Region) (Lot 9 ) is a splendid example of his work.
Unusual is January Seventh 1961 (Lot 6 ) by one of Australia’s most important painters of the late 20th century Peter Upward (1932-1983) and belongs to a large group of works by the artist that he painted on the floor.
About The Author
Richard Brewster has been writing about the antiques and art auction industry for almost 25 years, first in a regular weekly column for Fairfax's The Age newspaper and also in more recent times for his own website Australian Auction Review. With over 50 years experience as a journalist and public relations consultant, in 1990 Richard established his own business Brewster & Associates in Melbourne, handling a wide range of clients in the building, financial, antiques and art auction industries.
