Although the family built a substantial art collection, it was stolen, abandoned or subject to forced sale when they sought refuge during World War II in Australia.
In the 1970s, Claude launched a successful creative advertising agency Higgins Ullin Advertising (later Ullin & Partners) before his passion for art saw establishment of the gallery from his Spanish Revival home in Punt Road, South Yarra – numbering international buyers (including singer/songwriter Billy Joel and his wife Christine Brinkley) among his clients.
A solid contributor to the Australian art scene, Claude later opened High on Art Gallery in Armadale, which specialised in Indigenous art, and funded the Lyrica Opera Company of Melbourne.
For his efforts in promoting the arts and in local government, in 2017 Claude was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
The paintings in the auction include many of his favourites such as Lorna Chick’s (1922-2007) Mount Buffalo (Lot 281 ), Anne Graham’s Diamond Bay, Sorrento 1977, (Lot 239 ) Henri Bastin’s (1896-1979) Northern District WS Australia 1978 (Lot 264 ) and Samuel Byrne’s (1883-1978) Paddy Dumaoo’s Beer A Grade Makers The Minder’s Parade, Thackaringa 1886 (Lot 269 ).
