Photographic auction an eclectic lesson in history
Author: Richard Brewster | Posted: 9th November, 2016
Three hundred and sixty images and albums by many of the world’s best-known photographers from the 19th century and 20th century will be auctioned from 2pm Thursday November 10 at Leonard Joel 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra.
The images belong to Dr Dinesh Parekh who has been collecting photographs for most of his adult life.
His interest in photography developed as a teenager growing up in Rajhisthan, India and he began collecting in earnest after qualifying in 1962 as a doctor.
The first photographs he acquired were of 10 of the most beautiful women in the world, including examples by renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh.
Dr Parekh’s passion for collecting continued for more than 40 years – during which time he amassed more than 10,000 paintings, lithographs, chromolithographs albumen and silver gelatin photographs from the early 1800s to the early 21st century.
The breadth of the collection up for auction is remarkable, covering all periods and a wide range of subjects that will appeal to many collecting tastes.
The auction features photographs of several Hollywood stars including Norma Shearer by famous British photographer Cecil Beaton, Portrait of an Jean Harlow by American George Hurrell, and Rita Hayworth as Gilda by American Robert Coburn.
Auction goers should find other photographs such as French photographer Jean-Loup Sieff’s Nu Pompier 1956 and American Edward Weston’s Nude Floating 1939/1981 equally fascinating.
Other works of note include American Harry Callahan’s Providence 1977 dye transfer print, J. Pascal Sebah (1838-1890) Abou-Simbel Temple (Façade) c1890 albumen print on its original mount and Gyula Halasz Brassai’s Chamonix silver gelatin print.
