Henry Press Britain, Australia, c1844-1920
Past Sales
Sales by Medium
Where to buy or sell art works by Henry Press
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About Henry Press
Born in England in 1844, Press is best known as a marine painter. He was from the Press family who were Bristol Channel Pilots, mainly out of Watchet, Somerset where he lived and captained the Watchet lifeboat in times of need. In one huge storm, he and his lifeboat crew rescued everyone on board a stranded aground vessel. Raging seas made it very difficult and then a second ship ran aground so he set off and successfully rescued them as well. Queen Victoria honoured him with a bravery medal. He painted this scene and that painting hangs in the Watchet Council rooms today. He later took up an offer to be a pilot in Auckland,NZ and later went to Melbourne joining the No 2 Pilot Service on Port Phillip Bay. A keen racing yachtsman, he came second in the 1888 Centenary Round the Bay Yacht Race in Coo-ee-Ana. He was founding Commodore of the Hobson’s Bay Yacht Club at Williamstown. On his retirement he continued painting in Melbourne. Working in oils, he was a prolific and good marine artist in oils, also painting coastal and inland landscapes.
In our database, 28 works by Henry Press are listed as being offered for sale, the earliest in 1972, of which 16 (57%) were sold. The highest price recorded for the artist is $6,000 for Cattle Drinking sold by Leonard Joel in April 1987. No works have been offered for sale this year, and the last sale we have recorded for the artist was in 2020.
Henry Press is listed in the following standard biographical references:
- McCulloch, Alan McCulloch, Susan McCulloch, Emily McCulloch-Childs. The New McCulloch's Encyclopedia of Australian Art. 4th Edition, Aus Art Melbourne & The Miegunyah Press, 2006. Page 794
Artists' Resale Royalty
Could the second and subsequent works by this artist sold after June 9, 2010 for over $1,000 be liable for the Artists' Resale Royalty? More info…
No, ineligible. The artist has been deceased for more than 70 years.
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