Poet T.S. Eliot honoured in Jeffrey Smart auction painting

A homage paid to poet T.S. Eliot entitled T.S. Euginedes, Piraeus by Jeffrey Smart – and never before seen at auction – is one of seven of the artist’s works to feature prominently in Sotheby’s Australia forthcoming Important Australian & International Art auction from 6.30pm Tuesday November 25 at the Intercontinental Sydney, 117 Macquarie Street in Sydney.

The paintings form a representative overview of the artist’s distinct style. Six have been consigned from the collection of distinguished international Australian Frank Rickwood, a well-known oil industry giant and Smart’s friend.

Another important work is Hans Heysen’s Bushfire, Hahndorf, South Australia (1912), which conveys the terror and immense destruction of Australian bushfires.

The painting is based on the dreadful devastation of South Australia early last century.

One work of major interest Grace Cossington-Smith’s highly acclaimed masterpiece The Window 1956, which has re-emerged from a private collection and is expected to achieve a new auction record for the artist.

Other historical works include paintings by Tom Roberts, Charles Condor and Arthur Streeton – while Fred Williams and Brett Whiteley are prominent.

Rupert Bunny’s Au Soleil (Girl in Sunlight) 1913 is an interesting work. Albert Watts acquired the painting in 1953 and almost 40 years later it was stolen from his Blairgowrie home. In 2010, the painting was recovered and returned to Watts’ executors.