Leading Jeffrey Smart painting makes its first appearance at auction

Jeffrey Smart’s Bus by the Tiber 1977-78 (lot 37) is a major highlight of Menzies forthcoming art auction from 6.30pm Thursday August 9 at Menzies Sydney gallery 12 Todman Avenue, Kensington.

Described by Menzies managing director Cameron Menzies as one of Smart’s best compositions from his finest decade of artistic endeavour, Bus by the Tiber is a painting resplendent with primary colour and captivating geometry and makes its maiden appearance at auction.

The work has remained in the same Sydney collection since purchased from Rudy Komon Gallery in December 1980.

Melbourne buyers will have the opportunity to view the painting until Sunday July 29 at Menzies gallery 1 Darling Street, South Yarra before the auction works head to Sydney.

Another important attraction is Arthur Boyd’s Bride Dreaming by a Pool circa 1961 (lot 32) – a previously undocumented work, relating to the celebrated Love, Marriage and Death of a Half-Caste series, which has been repatriated from a London collection for its inaugural sale.

Contemporary art forms the nucleus of the auction, with works by global art market icons such as Andy Warhol, William Kentridge and Anthony Gormley alongside thosde of leading Australian artists such as John Olsen, Ken Whisson, Del Kathryn Barton, Tim Storrier, Bronwyn Oliver and Julian Ford.

The auction’s diversity is evident through the collection of Sandra and Peter Geyer (lots 1-20 and 81-114).

Founders in in 1977 of Geyer Design, the Geyers helped to pioneer the development of interior design as a significant large scale independent practice in Australia.

With a reputation as beacons of innovative taste, the Geyers (given the obvious links between interior design and contemporary art) also were able to advise many corporations on their art collections.

As a result, over four decades they were able to select, accumulate, rotate and document a large art collection for their East Melbourne home.

An important Australian indigenous collection in the sale is that of Dr Michael and Mrs Patricia Bernard (lots 115-134) along with the estate of Brisbane’s late Benjamin Peel (lots 71-80).