Important Australian Art

Important Australian Art

Stunning results were achieved at Sotheby’s Australia’s May sale of The David Newby Collection of Australian Art and Important Australian Art with its highest auction result achieved in ten years.  The sale total of $14,258,750 and 149.6% sold by value surpassed the two night sale results of May 2016.  The sale opened at a cracking pace with a new auction record for Elioth Gruner’s Fisherman, Coogee Beach 1913 for $164,700 (estimate $60,000-80,000, lot 1).  This was quickly followed by an auction record for Ray Crooke’s Thursday Island 1958 for $170,800 (estimate $70,000-90,000, lot 4).  The highest result for the evening was for Eugene von Guérard’s Breakneck Gorge, Hepburn Springs 1864 that sold for $1,952,000 (estimate $1,000,000-1,200,000, lot 41).

Geoffrey Smith, Chairman of Sotheby’s Australia commented: ‘This evening Sotheby’s Australia reinforced its position as the premier auctioneer in Australia for important Australian art.  We achieved exceptional clearance rates with numerous works selling for well over their pre-sale estimates.  We were fortunate to have three significant works by the eminent 19^th century Australian artist Eugene von Guérard, which all far exceeded their estimates.