Deutscher and Hackett

It often takes far-sighted visionaries to change the course of history – never more true than for the Australian art industry.

In the late 1980s, legendary Melbourne-based artworld figures Dr Joseph Brown (1918-2009) and Professor Bernard Smith (1916-2011) sensed that important Australian artworks were significantly undervalued and surreptitiously being snapped up by overseas buyers instead of remaining in the country.

A timed online Melbourne art auction of contemporary, Aboriginal and modern paintings by Deutscher and Hackett is yet another indication of the continuing strong buyer demand for art on the Australian market. 

Finishing from 7pm on Tuesday May 17, the auction features works by several of Australia’s leading artists including John Kelly, Tim Storrier, Ray Crooke, Sidney Nolan, Michael Zavros, Patricia Piccinini, Leonard French, Robert Dickerson and Gloria Petyarre. 

Deutscher and Hackett’s forthcoming Important Australian and International Fine Art auction is like a roll call of Australian artist royalty.

Scheduled for 7pm Wednesday May 4 at 36 Gosbell Street in Sydney’s Paddington, the sale features 11 paintings with catalogue estimates of more than $100,000 – all featuring artists familiar to investors and collectors alike – and undoubtedly a reflection of the strength of the Australian art market during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Big name indigenous artists in several collections are the hallmark of Australian art auction house Deutscher and Hackett’s forthcoming Important Australian Aboriginal Art sale from 7pm Wednesday March 30 at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra.

One of the most noteworthy is Merne (Everything), 1991 (lot 5) by Emily Kame Kngwarreye (c1910-1996) – painted at a time when she emerged as one of Australia’s leading artists with her works being sought after on an unprecedented scale, marking the beginning of her national and international recognition.  

Australian artworks acquired over the past 50 years by the National Australia Bank (NAB) will be auctioned from 7pm February 22 by Deutscher and Hackett at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra.

Featuring more than 2000 works - of which 73 will be offered at this auction, the collection includes examples from some of Australia’s most recognised artists such as Sidney Nolan, John Brack, Jeffrey Smart, Fred Williams, John Olsen, Arthur Streeton and Frederick McCubbin.

Australian artist the late Jeffrey Smart (1921-2013) loved Italy, emigrating there in 1963 and eight years later acquiring the rustic farmhouse ‘Posticcia Nuova’ in central Tuscany.

It was the site for many of his paintings including The Arezzo Turn-off II, 1973 – which features prominently as lot 5 in Melbourne-based Deutscher and Hackett’s art auction from 7pm Wednesday December 8 at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra.

To anyone who has never been to Venice, Australian artist Arthur Streeton’s (1867-1943) painting The Grand Canal, 1908 is a marvellous almost lifelike portrayal of waterways, gondolas and orange stepped terracotta tiled roofs from the lofty heights of Palazzo Foscari.

So good is the work that experts place it alongside paintings of the same subject by such international greats as French Impressionist Claude Monet (1840-1926) and 18^th century Venice School Italian Giovanni Antonio Canal (1697-1768) – commonly known as Canaletto.

Seven early bark paintings from the Gary Bradley estate are being offered alongside the likes of works by iconic Aboriginal artists Emily Kane Kngwarreye and Rover Thomas at Deutscher and Hackett’s forthcoming Melbourne Aboriginal Art auction from 7pm Wednesday March 17 at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra.

Sydneysiders can get their last look at Deutscher and Hackett’s Twenty Classics of Australian Art auction items this weekend at 16 Goodhope Street, Paddington before the paintings head for their Melbourne viewing and auction.

For the southern city it is a big deal because, for the first time since Melbourne imposed its Stage 3 then Stage 4 COVID-19 lockdown in July, art lovers will be able to view the paintings live (Thursday November 5 to Wednesday November 11 at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra) and not just on a computer screen.

The Peter and Renate Nahum collection of Aboriginal Art, London: Part II timed online auction courtesy of Australian auction house Deutscher and Hackett ends at 7pm on August 19.

Conducted during Australia’s ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the auction is being conducted from its Sydney office.