Given by the artist to Sunday Reed in 1948 it was then returned to Nolan until it was sold to Lord McAlpine in the mid 1970s. The next listing is with The Sir Sidney Nolan Trust, UK until it was bought again by the now Baron McAlpine in 1989.
The current vendor, since 1992, is The Vizard Foundation, Melbourne. The painting has been on loan to the NGV since 1994. The exhibition list that accompanies its catalogue entry is substantial and significant; this work has been on an Australian version of a right Royal Tour.
Menzies National Head of Art Tim Abdallah says Nolan’s Marksman is “the best Australian painting not in captivity (either privately owned or on the walls of a museum) and looks set to break the record price for a work of art in the country.” Abdallah said that they have “two names identified as potential buyers; people we have done business with in the past. But we have no idea who will buy it on the night; we have often been taken by surprise.”
Apart from the centrepiece Nolan, the sale has a number of very good examples of work by top artists. Abdallah said “we have two Percivals, done in the height of his powers, to see better you’ll have to go to a museum. We have people queuing for the Lin Onus works and we have five really good Jeffrey Smarts. I’ve been working here since 2002 and I can’t think of a better auction than this one. It’s the best sale we have ever had.”
Other interesting works listed include, Eugene Von Guerard’s Ferntree Gully in the Dandenong Ranges (Lot 40 ). This work was in The First Exhibition of the Society of Fine Arts in Melbourne in 1857 and a larger version is in the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
John Brack’s painting of two figure skaters, titled Adagio (Lot 50 ) should appeal to the art loving, avid Winter Olympic fans, caught in the spotlight, with an estimate of $600,000-$800,000.
Bronwyn Oliver’s Tracery (Lot 49 ), in copper and bronze is a good size piece (180 x 130 x 130 cm) with expectations ranging from $350,000 to $500,000. Abdallah tips that the record price for an Australian sculpture will fall on March 22.
If all the telephone number dollar figures are leaving you a little wan, check out, John Kelly's English Pasture 2000 (Lot 67 ) at his funniest should refresh your senses.
