Submitted by aarAdmin on Fri, 08/22/2025 - 00:00
Art market buffs will rarely be disappointed when it comes to the successful auctioning of quality name paintings and Menzies thoughtfully crafted Melbourne sale on Wednesday August 20 was no exception as sales reached $7,924,741 including buyers’ premiums – 89 percent by volume and 104 percent by value.
Incorporating the works of well-known collectors always helps and paintings held by Sydney enthusiast the late Richard Blair were eagerly sought.
His Bouquet de Cheminee 1913 (lot 39) by French artist Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947) topped the Menzies billing on the night at $981,818 including buyer’s premium with a hammer price of $800,000.
Several of Blair’s other paintings finished in the top 10 including Rupert Bunny’s (1864-1947) Sunbath c1915-16 (lot 38), which changed hands for $368,182, and Arthur Boyd’s (1920-1999) Figure in a Hillside 1961-62 (lot 40) at $319,091.
Brett Whiteley’s Sketch of Magnolia 1977 (lot 41) – a vibrant still life held in the same family collection since its acquisition in 1978 from Melbourne’s Joseph Brown Gallery – reached the low catalogue estimate of $400,000 ($490,909 with buyer’s premium).
Another of his works Change 1971 (lot 44) brought $196,364.
Rick Amor’s (born 1948) The Waiter 1997 (lot 34) sold for an artist auction record of $429,545 amid a great deal of excitement among those at the auction.
Many of the paintings were snapped up by either online or phone bidders with enthusiastic support from everyone concerned.
One of these was contemporary Australian artist Tim Storrier (born 1949) whose work Stars and Embers (lot 36) was knocked down to a room buyer for $171,818.
Ian Fairweather (1891-1974) is another popular secondary market artist and African Family 1963 (lot 42) was a great acquisition at $368,182 – the same price as that paid for the Bunny.
Another important sale was Bunjil 2003 (lot 31) by popular Melbourne sculptor the late Bruce Armstrong for $171,818 along with Arthur Boyd’s (1920-1999) Storm Cloud and Swan c1985 (lot 54) for $147,273.
