Deutscher and Hackett

Deutscher and Hackett has boosted its forthcoming Melbourne Australian and international fine art auction with select works from the historic McClelland collection to ensure strong collector interest.

The estimated $5.1-$7.3 million sale, from 7pm Wednesday August 28 at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra, features the painting Vanity c1912 (lot 2) by Emanuel Phillips Fox (1865-1915), with a catalogue estimate of $350,000-$550,000 among the seven works (lots 1 to 7) from the collection.

Brett Whiteley (1939-1992), whose relatively early death deprived the Australian art industry of one its most iconic figures, continues to excite secondary art market buyers each time one of his paintings is offered for auction.

The Wren, 1978 is yet another leading example of his uncanny ability to capture the Australian landscape in all its glory – this time shimmering summer heat that covers rolling hills and valleys near his New South Wales home town of Bathurst.

Ever the optimist, head of Aboriginal art at Deutscher and Hackett Crispin Gutteridge is confident the auction house’s forthcoming major sale of Important Australian Indigenous Art – from 7pm Tuesday March 26 in its Melbourne office at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra – will at least be as successful as those of the previous two years.

“Both of those sold over the high-end estimate of $3 million,” he said. “This one’s top estimate is $2.5 million and we hope to achieve that again.”

Ian Fairweather (1891-1974) paintings – part of the art collection belonging to early Australian art scene pioneers Joe and Rose Skinner – will be auctioned by Deutscher and Hackett from 7pm Wednesday November 22 in their Sydney premises at 36 Gosbell Street, Paddington.

Brett Whiteley, John Brack, Albert Tucker, Ray Crooke,Tim Storrier, John Coburn, John Olsen and Garry Shead are among Australia’s leading mainly modern artists whose works feature in Deutscher and Hackett’s timed online Modern, Contemporary, Indigenous and Traditional Melbourne art auction ending from 7pm October 10 at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra.

The highest catalogue estimate, at $60,000-$80,000, is Shead’s The Presence II, 1992 (lot 19) followed by Storrier’s Cherry Bar and Smoke, 1998 (lot 7) at $28,000-$35,000.

Smart collectors and first-time buyers would be well advised to closely consider Deutscher and Hackett’s timed online Melbourne Modern, Contemporary and Indigenous art auction which will end from 7pm Tuesday September 5.

Among the 45 works on offer are several by top Australian artists along with affordable paintings ideal for collection starters.

Art works belonging to two giants of Australia’s art world – including Brett Whiteley’s (1939-1992) South Coast After the Rain, 1984 (lot 1) and Sidney Nolan’s (1917-1992) Early Morning Township, 1955 (lot 9) – will be among the massive highlights of Deutscher and Hackett’s forthcoming Melbourne auction from 7pm Wednesday August 16 at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra.

The former painting, carrying a $1.5 million to $2 million catalogue estimate, belongs to advertising guru Peter Clemenger and his wife Joan, who died early last year.

Melbourne-based abstract artist James Smeaton has given some of his indigenous art collection to Deutscher and Hackett for a timed online auction ending from 7pm Tuesday June 6 at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra.

Smeaton, 59, has been exhibiting solo since the early 1990s – most recently with Scott Livesey Galleries – and his paintings concentrate on aquatic and maritime features in Melbourne’s port area.

Deutscher and Hackett’s latest timed online auction is a great opportunity to pick up works by one of Australia’s well-known artists without destroying the budget.

Classified as modern, contemporary and traditional art, the sale will close from 7pm Tuesday May 23 and features affordable paintings, prints and sculptures by such luminaries as Sidney Nolan, Bill Henson, Tim Storrier, Tim Maguire, Brett Whiteley, Russell Drysdale, Robert Klippel and Norman Lindsay.

Russell Drysdale (1912-1981) was renowned for providing an artistic commentary of Australia and its inhabitants during the 20^th century – his paintings capturing both the essence of the country and the character of its people.

One, entitled Children Dancing, 1950, (lot 12) is at the forefront of Deutscher and Hackett’s forthcoming Melbourne auction from 7pm Wednesday May 3 at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra with a catalogue estimate of $1.3-$1.6 million.