Submitted by aarAdmin on Mon, 05/08/2023 - 00:00
Buyers must hang out for the opportunity to buy paintings by Russell Drysdale (1912-1981) – especially ones fresh to the secondary market – and then are willing to pay top dollar for the privilege of owning them.
So it proved on May 3, when Deutscher and Hackett offered Children Dancing, 1950 (lot 12) at its Melbourne auction of Important Australian and International Fine Art.
The painting sold for $2,025,000 including buyer’s premium, the second highest price for an auction Drysdale behind equal hammer records of $2.4 million for Going to the Pictures, 1941 in 2020 and Grandma’s Sunday Walk, 1972 in 2017.
Acquired from the Joseph Brown collection (on show in the National Gallery of Victoria), Children Dancing had been privately owned since 1983.
Like Drysdale’s other works, the painting captures both the essence of Australia and the character of its people and is typical of his ability to provide quality artistic commentary on life at the time.
Not surprisingly, another icon of Australia’s art world – Brett Whiteley (1939-1992) – features strongly with his painted bronze sculpture Pelican I, 1983 (lot 4) that changed hands for $662,727 on a $350,000-$450,000 catalogue estimate. A related unpainted work resides in the National Gallery of Victoria.
Veteran John Olsen, who died last month aged 95, filled third spot in the top 10 results with The Bath, 1996 (lot 7) at $343,636 while contemporary artist Cressida Campbell’s Bronte Interior, 2003 (lot 23) was a pleasing $294,545 on a $140,000-$180,000 catalogue estimate.
Charles Blackman (1928-2018) rarely disappoints and his Double Image, 1961 (lot 9) – believed to be part of his seminal solo London exhibition that year – was a solid $220,909 return.
Quality Arthur Boyd (1920-1999) paintings are always in hot demand and when Pulpit Rock, Sandbar and Figure, Shoalhaven River, c1987 (lot 36) was knocked down for $202,500 (including premium), well above its $90,000-$120,000 catalogue estimate, barely an eye brow was raised.
Olsen featured again among the top results with White Pollen Time, 1974 (lot 6), which brought $196,394 on its $120,000-$160,000 estimate, while his Tidal Estuary, 1993 (lot 18) was not far short of this figure at $171, 818 on an $80,000-$100,000 range.
Jeffrey Smart (1921-2013) and Albert Henry Fullwood (1863-1930) rounded out the top 10 with their respective Second Study for House at Intersection, 1977 (lot 11) and The Old Whaling Station, Mosman’s Bay, Sydney, 1899 (lot 29) – each work changing hands for $159,545.
