Submitted by aarAdmin on Fri, 11/07/2014 - 00:00
Mossgreen’s saleroom was packed on October 28 with anxious bidders for the highly anticipated auction of Frederick McCubbin’s masterpiece Mrs McCubbin Picking Blossom – never before seen at auction and one of the finest of his paintings still in private hands.
Painted in 1890, the work represents a defining moment in Australian art history and the price of $1,342,000 (including buyers premium) did not disappoint, as it was one of the highest prices at auction this year and the fourth highest price for a McCubbin.
The auction totalled $2,889,452 and among the top 10 works were Ah Xian’s Concrete Forest: Acanthus Mollis, which changed hands for $128,100, and Sir Arthur Streeton’s Amiens Cathedral 1918 ($79,300).
Other works to feature include John Olsen’s Portrait Landscape 1961 ($79,300), Sidney Nolan’s Suburb 1964 ($58,560) and Brett Whiteley’s Near Yass NSW 1977 ($43,920).
