Gracius Joseph Broinowski was born in Walichnowy near Wielun, Poland, in 1837 and arrived in Melbourne in 1862. An ornithological artist of repute, he travelled Australia selling his work through art unions in country towns, covering southern Victoria to Cooktown, Queensland. He taught art in Melbourne and later at St. Aloysius College, Newington College and Riverview College in Sydney. He painted birds and mammals for N.S.W. schools but his most important surviving work is a magnificent book called The Birds of Australia, published by Charles Stuart & Son, containing 300 colour plates with text that was issued in 36 monthly instalments at 10/- each from 1889-91. The book was intended to replace the famous Birds of Australia by John Gould.
The earliest auction listing we have for Gracius Broinowski is in 1976 and in total 100 works by the artist have been offered for sale, of which 73 (73%) were sold. The highest price recorded for the artist is $3,120 for Birds Including Cockatoos, Parakeets, Parrots and Lorikeets (43) sold by Leonard Joel in December 2010. No works have been offered for sale this year, and the last sale we have recorded for the artist was in 2023. Works by Gracius Broinowski are held by the Queensland Art Gallery.
Gracius Broinowski is listed in the following standard biographical references:
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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