At our Fine Art auction on Tuesday evening the audience was hushed as they observed a series of small works, miniatures and watercolours to be precise, of Australian colonial origin realise a small fortune. Lots 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 comprised the Cox family collection, most of which were traceable to The Hon. Edward King Cox, MLC of Mulgoa. The six works, collectively estimated at $30,000, realised a staggering $96,624 IBP as the sheer historical importance of the works was absorbed by the audience.
Cox was an important colonial era grazier and livestock and racing breeder of international renown and the six images were in many ways rare snapshots of the period. Of equal excitement was a superb Heidelberg school painting by Walter Withers. The Trysting Place, as it was known, had remained undiscovered for 125 years as it moved through generations of the one family. Unsigned, it was viewed as a beautiful but not particularly valuable painting. After extensive research at Leonard Joel the painting’s author, origin and history was meticulously reconstructed until it was, beyond doubt, confirmed as an important and lost work from Australia’s most famous school of artists, the Heidelberg School. The painting finally transacted for $80,000 IBP and is now recorded as a recently discovered work by the artist.
If you have a work of local or international origin that requires research please contact our Art department to discuss your needs.
Sophie Ullin
Head of Art
(03) 8825 5609
sophie.ullin@leonardjoel.com.au