Little remains of the idyllic vista painted by the Austrian-born artist in 1859. Where mad-eyed football fans now roam, and mountainous men in short shorts and team jumpers pound the turf, von Guérard depicted kangaroos grazing amongst bucolic green fields.
Buyers in the current Australian art auction market can afford to be choosy. Sub-standard works that would have stimulated vigorous competition during the boom are now overlooked. But works like these that are new to the market are likely to attract keen attention. Adding to the appeal of the subject matter, the provenance is impeccable. The pair of paintings hung in von Guérard’s Gipps Street home in East Melbourne, a residence that was later acquired by Baron and the Lady Casey with the paintings in situ. The paintings have remained there ever since.
Also appearing in the consignment from the Estate of the Lady Casey is another intimate landscape by von Guérard, Distant view towards Yarra Bend from our little tower, 1871. ‘Our little tower’ refers to the tower of the home occupied by von Guérard, and later the Caseys. The view towards Yarra Bend, Studley Park and Kew, is quite identifiable. Although the river plains von Guérard painted in 1871 are now built over, the iconic tree-covered slopes of Studley Park have changed little.
