Modern NZ masterpieces for auction in Melbourne

MEDIA RELEASE
12 August 2009

Modern New Zealand masterpieces to be auctioned by Deutscher and Hackett, Melbourne

Deutscher and Hackett is delighted to announce an extraordinary offering for its winter Important Australian + International fine art auction, to be held in Melbourne on 26 August 2009 at its South Yarra gallery. With an exceptional selection of works, the auction includes a group of four significant paintings by Colin McCahon.

The outstanding collection of paintings by New Zealand’s greatest 20th Century artist, Colin McCahon, includes Let be, let be 1959, (AU$800,000 – 1,200,000), one of the most important New Zealand works of art ever to be offered for auction. When last sold at auction in 1996 the painting set the record for the highest price ever achieved by a New Zealand artist at auction (NZ$704,000), and still holds that record 14 years later. The painting was then acquired in 1997 by its present owner. Considered one of McCahon’s seminal works, and one of the first of his celebrated ‘word paintings’, it is with enormous pride that Deutscher and Hackett has been entrusted to handle its sale.

Also in the collection is The First Bellini Madonna (Second Version) 1961 (AU$300,000 – 400,000), Gate 1962, (AU$120,000 – 160,000) and French Bay 1957 (AU$75,000 – 100,000). Representing four ‘key works’ and an extraordinary cross section of McCahon’s practice, these paintings have been held in an Australian private collection for over a decade. During that time, both Let be, let be 1959, and The First Bellini Madonna (Second Version) 1961, were included in the international touring retrospective Colin McCahon: A Question of Faith, organized by the Stedelijk Museum in The Netherlands in 2002. Combined, the four paintings have been included in almost every major McCahon exhibition and publication to date.

In addition to the collection of McCahons, two major paintings by the important contemporary New Zealand artist, Shane Cotton, are also being offered in the 26 August auction. The paintings were shown in two exhibitions at the Sherman Galleries, Sydney and are highly desirable examples of the artist’s work.

Within the last two years, Deutscher and Hackett has strongly promoted major modern and contemporary New Zealand works of art, attracting bidding from Australian and New Zealand collectors. In April this year, the auction house set a new record price (AU$276,000) selling Bill Hammond’s Jingle Jangle Morning to an Australian collector, and in the same auction a prized portrait by CF Goldie also sold for AU$120,000 to a New Zealand collector.

Significant works by Colin McCahon have also become a feature of Deutscher and Hackett auctions, with his work Clouds 5 1975 selling in November 2007 to an Australian private collector for AU$360,000, and more recently Mondrian’s Last Chrysanthemum (Scared) 1976 selling in November 2008 to the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa for AU$ 312,000.

Please find attached document for further information regarding these paintings . Images are available upon request.

AUCTION: 7:00pm, 26 August 2009
VENUE: Deutscher and Hackett
105 Commercial Road
South Yarra VIC 3141
Tel: 03 9865 6333

SYDNEY PREVIEW: 13 Thursday - 16 Sunday August 2009
11.00am - 6.00pm
55 Oxford Street
(corner of Pelican Street)
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Tel: 02 9287 0600

MELBOURNE PREVIEW: Thursday 20 – Tuesday 25 August 2009
11.00am – 6.00pm
105 Commercial Road
South Yarra VIC 3141
Tel: 03 9865 6333

ENDS

Attached: DHMcCahons.pdf

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