Menzies Art Brands

Rare and substantial works by an accomplished Australian colonial artist, providing new perspectives on important aspects of mid-19^th century Australian art and life, will be auctioned from 6.30pm Thursday March 28 by Menzies at its Sydney gallery at 12 Todman Avenue, Kensington.

Thomas Tyrwhitt Balcombe (1810-1861) was a well-known colonial identity, field surveyor and professional artist who won many awards and medals for his efforts – and whose works until recently were few and far between.

Jeffrey Smart’s Bus by the Tiber 1977-78 (lot 37) is a major highlight of Menzies forthcoming art auction from 6.30pm Thursday August 9 at Menzies Sydney gallery 12 Todman Avenue, Kensington.

Described by Menzies managing director Cameron Menzies as one of Smart’s best compositions from his finest decade of artistic endeavour, Bus by the Tiber is a painting resplendent with primary colour and captivating geometry and makes its maiden appearance at auction.

Art auction house Menzies is celebrating its 20^th anniversary in style with a sale of carefully selected paintings that include such iconic Australian artists as Russell Drysdale and Jeffrey Smart.

It has been a successful art journey for executive chairman Rod Menzies who began his Melbourne operation as Deutscher~Menzies in Malvern before purchasing the current premises at 1 Darling Street, South Yarra a few years later.

While eye-catching sculptures in the grounds of Rod Menzies spacious Stonington Mansion greeted guests as they arrived for Melbourne’s special guest viewing of Menzies forthcoming Australian & International Fine Art & Sculpture auction, the usual display of major art works on easels in the foyer was notably absent.

Menzies chief executive officer Justin Turner is confident the company’s forthcoming auction could realise almost $10 million (including buyers’ premiums) when 154 art lots go under the hammer from 6.30pm Thursday August 10 at 1 Darling Street, South Yarra.

There are plenty of strong works by top line Australian artists to back up his claim, starting with the catalogue cover piece – Frederick McCubbin’s Pastoral 1904 – purchased in 1971 by the current owners’ family at auction in Melbourne and expected to sell for $500,000-$700,000. 

The best selection of Australian Impressionist paintings to appear for some time in a Menzies sale features Charles Conder’s The Fortune of War 1888 (lot 45).

Art lovers who visit Stonington mansion in Malvern over the next few days to view paintings earmarked for Menzies forthcoming February auction will be struck on entry by the strong colour and highly stylised rendering of modern urban life in French 20^th century master Fernand Léger’s 1943 work China Town, which takes pride of place in the foyer.

Menzies Art Brands will auction some of Australian iconic artist Brett Whiteley’s best works over two nights from 6.30pm Wednesday September 21 and Thursday September 22 at 1 Darling Street, South Yarra as part of two-pronged sale offering 289 works with a low estimate of $8.3 million.

The auction comprises 129 lots in its Australian & International Fine Art & Sculpture sale from various vendors and on the second night involves the dispersal of the Stock-in-Trade of Savill Galleries.

Eugene von Guerard’s View of Hobart Town, with Mount Wellington in the Background is the centrepiece of a strong presentation of early and colonial works at Menzies forthcoming Sydney auction of Australian & International Fine Art & Sculpture from 6.30pm Thursday June 23.

Menzies head of Australian art Tim Abdallah believes the work, painted in 1856, is clearly a museum quality magnum opus, which the auction house expects to sell for more than $1.25 million. 

What immediately strikes art lovers as they enter Stonington Mansion to view Menzies Art Brands first offerings for 2016 is the enormous Garry Shead painting entitled The Studio 2001 prominently displayed in the foyer.

This must be the auction for enormous works – major paintings by Tim Storrier and Rick Amor in an adjoining room are equally impressive, as is the upstairs display of Michael Johnson’s giant Vermillion 1995.