Conrad Martens Britain, Australia, 1801-78
Past Sales
Sales by Medium
Where to buy or sell art works by Conrad Martens
Auction Houses
About Conrad Martens
Conrad Martens was born in London, 1801 and studied in London under Copley Fielding from about 1816. He left England when Captain Blackwood of the Hyacinth offered him a three year cruise to India, and transferred to the Beagle at Montevideo. Charles Darwin became his close friend during the ensuing two-year voyage. He arrived in Sydney in 1835 and later settled in the The Rocks, and set up a studio. He became Parliamentary Librarian in 1863, a post which he held until his death in 1878. Two of Conrad Martens' brothers, Henry and J. W. Martens, were also artists. A large number of his works are in the Dixon Gallery and Mitchell Library. One of the most competent early artists, his paintings are of historical interest as well as possessing fine artistic merit.
Conrad Martens is one of the most prolific of the artists listed in our database, with the number of works offered for sale by auction since 1967 of 831, of which 559 (67%) were sold. The highest price recorded for the artist is $726,000 for Sydney Harbour from Vaucluse sold by Sotheby's in May 2005. No works have been offered for sale this year, and the last sale we have recorded for the artist was in 2023. Works by Conrad Martens are held by the Art Gallery of NSW, National Gallery of Australia and a further six major public national galleries (see list below).
Conrad Martens 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 663
- Kerr, Joan. Dictionary of Australian Artists, Painters, Sketchers, Photographers and Engravers to 1870. Oxford University Press, Australia, 1993. Page 513
- Campbell, Jean. Australian Watercolour Painters: 1780 to the Present Day. Craftsman House, Sydney, 1989. Page 341
- Dictionary of Australian Artists Online, an online resource for biographical data about Australian artists, designers, craftspeople and curators.
- The Find New Zealand Artists web site: a database of artist names that directs researchers to the rich resources found in New Zealand's libraries, art society exhibition histories and published sources.
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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