McClelland collection to attract auction goers

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.

In the early to mid-20^th century, Harry McClelland and his sister Annie May ‘Nan’ were dynamic contributors to Melbourne’s cultural scene and played a vital role in the evolution of Victoria’s arts community.

After they died (he in 1954 and she seven years later), their lifelong ambition to establish an art gallery and cultural centre on the Mornington Peninsula was entrusted to close community leader friends, including Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, wife of newspaper magnate Sir Keith Murdoch – whose son Rupert is a global media tycoon.

In 1971, the McClelland Gallery (and later sculptural park) was established at Langwarrin, housing an initial collection of 163 works.

Another painting from the collection is Rupert Bunny’s (1864-1947) The Telegram c1908 (lot 3) – along with three Bertram Mackennal (1863-1931) sculptures, Circe c1902-1904 – lot 4, Truth 1894 – lot 5 and Salome 1897 – lot 6.

The remaining two paintings are Clarice Beckett’s (1887-1935) Boats at Sunset 1930 (lot 1) and Frederick McCubbin’s (1855-1917) Rainbow Over Burnley 1910 (lot 7).

Another important Rupert Bunny, entitled The Swing c1913 (lot 8), is among different vendor lots with a $$450,000-$650,000 catalogue estimate. Like many of his other works, the female figure in the painting is modelled on his wife Jeanne-Heloise Morel, also a practising artist.

There are a couple of Brett Whiteley (1939-1992) works including The Dead Rabbit 1979 (lot 9) and The Willow 1979 (lot 10), while Bronwyn Oliver (1959-2006) features with sculptures including Clasp 2006 (lot 12) and Flow 2002 (lo 13).

Rosalie Gascoigne (1917-1999) and British painter William Scott (1913-1989) are two more notable artists with respective works Plaza 1988 (lot 14) and New Still Life Study 1983 (lot 15).

The auction also contains works from the estate of Melbourne surgeon and collector Dr John Barnes (1938-2024) whose interest in art and architecture was legendary.

Paintings from his estate include Arthur Boyd’s (1920-1999) River-Bush Homage to Pollock 1976 (lot 18) and Fred Williams (1927-1982) Werribee Gorge No. 8 1977-78 (lot 19).