Important Australian Art

AU0874 | 8 April 2025 | Sydney | 6.30pm

ARTHUR BOYD 1920-1999 Bride in Hibiscus Bush (1958)
oil and tempera on composition board, 91.2 x 122.2 cm
Estimate $1,000,000–1,500,000
Sold for $1,779,545
© Arthur Boyd/Copyright Agency, 2025

JOHN RUSSELL 1858-1930 Vue de la Seine, Bougival
View of the Seine, Bougival, Spring (1887)
oil on canvas, 54.5 x 64.5 cm
Estimate $1,200,000–1,600,000
Sold for $1,472,727

JEFFREY SMART 1921-2013 The Lighthouse, Fiumicino (1968-1969)
oil on canvas, 81.3 x 65 cm
Estimate $500,000–700,000
Sold for $613,636
© The Estate of Jeffrey Smart

BRONWYN OLIVER 1959-2006 Shoal (1995)
copper, 120 x 120 x 26 cm
Estimate $600,000–800,000
Sold for $736,364
© Estate of Bronwyn Oliver. Courtesy Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney

EMILY KAM KNGWARREYE 1908-1996 Untitled (1996)
synthetic polymer paint on canvas, 121 x 91 cm
Estimate $200,000–300,000
Sold for $349,773
© Emily Kam Kngwarreye/Copyright Agency, 2025

JOHN OLSEN 1928-2023 A Field of Wattles 1981
oil on canvas, 137.2 x 152.5 cm
Estimate $200,000–300,000
Sold for $460,227
© John Olsen/Copyright Agency, 2025

CRESSIDA CAMPBELL born 1960 Garden Island 1990
watercolour on incised woodblock, 91.5 x 148.5 cm
Estimate $250,000–350,000
Sold for $355,909
© Cressida Campbell/Copyright Agency, 2025

ARTHUR BOYD 1920-1999 Narre Warren, Victoria (1952)
oil, tempera and resin on composition board, 77.5 x 102.8 cm
Estimate $200,000–300,000
Sold for $331,364
© Arthur Boyd/Copyright Agency, 2025

CAROL JERREMS 1949-1980 Vale Street 1975
gelatin silver photograph, edition of 9, plus artist’s proofs
20.1 x 30.4 cm (image); 40.6 x 50.7 cm (sheet)
Estimate $50,000–70,000
Sold for $270,000
AUCTION RECORD FOR THE ARTIST
AUCTION RECORD FOR AN AUSTRALIAN PHOTOGRAPH
© Ken Jerrems and the Estate of Lance Jerrems

LIN ONUS 1948-1996 Michael and I are Just Slipping Down to the Pub for a Minute (1992)
gouache on board, 50 x 38 cm
Estimate $200,000–300,000
Sold for $306,818
© Lin Onus/Copyright Agency, 2025

Sale Number: AU0874

IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN ART

Smith & Singer’s tightly curated April 2025 auction of Important Australian Art achieved exceptional results for traditional, modern and contemporary Australian art with a total of $12,056,605 (including buyer’s premium).

Determined bidding from clients in the saleroom, on telephones, and online resulted in an outstanding sold rate for a mixed vendor sale of 133% by value and 82% by volume, showing the depth of demand across all categories.

Compositions by Arthur Boyd and John Russell sold for well in excess of $1,000,000 each, representing the two highest results for art sold at auction in Australia this year, with numerous other works well exceeding their upper estimates. Results were led by stellar performances by artists including Arthur Boyd, Cressida Campbell, Emily Kam Kngwarreye, Bronwyn Oliver, John Olsen, Lin Onus, John Russell, Jeffrey Smart, and Arthur Streeton. Carol Jerrems established a new world auction record for an Australian photograph, far exceeding the $50,000–70,000 estimate, realising a price of $275,000.

To participate in a Smith & Singer sale, please contact our highly experienced specialists for a confidential appraisal. You may also use our appraisal estimate form.

CONTACT INFORMATION +


Specialists
	Geoffrey Smith Chairman Australian & International Art Melbourne \| Sydney T: +61 (0)3 9508 9900 T: +61 (0)2 9302 2402 E: Geoffrey Smith	Gary Singer Chief Executive Officer & Director Australian & International Art Melbourne \| Sydney T: +61 (0)3 9508 9900 T: +61 (0)2 9302 2402 E: Gary Singer

	Jessica Velasquez Executive Assistant Australian & International Art Melbourne T: +61 (0)3 9508 9900 E: Jessica Velasquez	David Mackay Manager, Sydney Gallery, Marketing & Media Australian & International Art Sydney T: +61 (0)2 9302 2402 E: David Mackay

BUY CATALOGUE

Auction Results & Details

Sale Total: 12,056,605 including Buyer's Premium

1 CAROL JERREMS
1949-1980

Vale Street 1975

$50,000-70,000 Lot Sold: $270,000 (including buyer's premium)

2 AKIO MAKIGAWA
1948-1999

Maquette for Night Sea Crossing (1992)

$40,000-60,000 Lot Sold: $61,364 (including buyer's premium)

3 HOWARD ARKLEY
1951-1999

Triple Fronted 1993

$20,000-30,000 Lot Sold: $24,545 (including buyer's premium)

4 LIN ONUS
1948-1996

Michael and I are Just Slipping Down to the Pub for a Minute (1992)

$200,000-300,000 Lot Sold: $306,818 (including buyer's premium)

5 LIN ONUS
1948-1996

Gilgirri Rruki (Camouflaged Geckos) (1992)

$40,000-60,000 Lot Sold: $49,091 (including buyer's premium)

6 ARTHUR STREETON
1867-1943

Sheep Country (1928)

$100,000-150,000 Lot Sold: $202,500 (including buyer's premium)

7 FRED WILLIAMS
1927-1982

You Yangs (1964)

$50,000-70,000 Lot Sold: $61,364 (including buyer's premium)

8 IAN FAIRWEATHER
1891-1974

Mulberries, Hangchow (1936)

$150,000-250,000 Lot Sold: $184,091 (including buyer's premium)

9 IAN FAIRWEATHER
1891-1974

Seated Women 1949

$120,000-160,000 Lot Sold: $147,273 (including buyer's premium)

10 ARTHUR BOYD
1920-1999

Narre Warren, Victoria (1952)

$200,000-300,000 Lot Sold: $331,364 (including buyer's premium)

11 ARTHUR BOYD
1920-1999

Bride in Hibiscus Bush (1958)

$1,000,000-1,500,000 Lot Sold: $1,779,545 (including buyer's premium)

12 ARTHUR BOYD
1920-1999

Bridegroom and Bride (1957-1958)

$80,000-120,000 Lot Sold: $98,182 (including buyer's premium)

13 BRONWYN OLIVER
1959-2006

Shoal (1995)

$600,000-800,000 Lot Sold: $736,364 (including buyer's premium)

14 JOHN BRACK
1920-1999

Progression 1978

$400,000-600,000 Lot Sold: $490,909 (including buyer's premium)

15 FRED WILLIAMS
1927-1982

Lysterfield Landscape 4 (1968)

$400,000-600,000 Lot Sold: $490,909 (including buyer's premium)

16 RUSSELL DRYSDALE
1912-1981

Head of a Boy (1945)

$12,000-18,000 Lot Sold: $34,364 (including buyer's premium)

17 WILLIAM ROBINSON
born 1936

Ceramic Study

$10,000-15,000

18 CLIFTON PUGH
1924-1990

Debris 1958

$8,000-12,000 Lot Sold: SOLD

19 JOHN OLSEN
1928-2023

(Cave Painting) (Wild Australia Series) (1971)

$5,000-8,000 Lot Sold: $6,136 (including buyer's premium)

20 CHARLES BLACKMAN
1928-2018

Schoolgirls (1952)

$8,000-12,000 Lot Sold: $9,818 (including buyer's premium)

21 JOHN OLSEN
1928-2023

A Field of Wattles 1981

$200,000-300,000 Lot Sold: $460,227 (including buyer's premium)

22 BRETT WHITELEY
1939-1992

Two Giraffes No. 2 1964 1985

$400,000-600,000 Lot Sold: SOLD

23 SIDNEY NOLAN
1917-1992

Sturt Station 1949

$250,000-350,000

24 JEFFREY SMART
1921-2013

The Lighthouse, Fiumicino (1968-1969)

$500,000-700,000 Lot Sold: $613,636 (including buyer's premium)

25 LOT WITHDRAWN FROM SALE

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CONTINUE

Important Australian Art

Specialists

Geoffrey Smith

Gary Singer

Jessica Velasquez

David Mackay

Auction Results & Details