Smith & Singer will offer a collection of 42 paintings by Australia’s most internationally celebrated and collected artist that span Sidney Nolan’s highly productive and inventive career from 1957 to 1987. All works in the sale represent exceptional buying and carry the same modest estimate of $15,000- 25,000, including Crocodile 1963 (Lot 7 above)
The collection was initially assembled by Nolan’s greatest patron Lord Alistair McAlpine of West Green, a British investor, politician, author, and raconteur, who is credited with transforming Broome from a pearling centre and remote coastal town into the modern tourism marvel it is today. McAlpine was also the most energetic, enthusiastic, and devoted collector of the work of Sidney Nolan and donated numerous works by the artist to public institutions in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Each work in this sale bears a particularly distinguished international provenance and represents a unique opportunity for collectors to acquire major oil paintings by Sidney Nolan. All works in the sale represent exceptional buying and carry the same modest estimate of $15,000- 25,000, which is below market value for comparable works previously sold at auction, as the vendor has instructed that all lots must be sold.’
Examples of the diversity of the works in the collection include, Sidney Nolan (1917-1992), Crocodile 1963 (Lot 7 ), Ned Kelly (Cover Design) (1961) (Lot 6 ), Elephant and White Cliffs (1963) (Lot 8 ), Bather 1975 (Lot 12 ), Notes for Oedipus (1975) (Lot 31 ), Gallipoli Soldier (1977) (Lot 33 ), and Cave (Silk Road Series) 1987 (Lot 39 ) are all expected to attract strong bidding.
The collection of 42 lots will be auctioned by Smith & Singer on 19 September 2023 in Sydney.
