Australian Impressionism Commands Strong Results at Leonard Joel

Outstanding results from the August auction of A Private Collection of Important Australian Art highlight the enduring appeal of Australian Impressionism and mark a significant moment for collectors and connoisseurs alike. I’ll admit to feeling daunted when our vendor entrusted Leonard Joel with the sale of what is arguably the most significant collection of Impressionist art to come to market in decades. It brought back vivid memories of my early days at Leonard Joel, working under the guidance of Graham Joel in 1988, when we sold Rupert Bunny’s iconic Impressionist works.

It was an absolute thrill to present this entire collection in both our Sydney and Melbourne salerooms, welcoming over 1,000 visitors during the viewing periods. We felt that if ever a collection had been well exhibited at auction, this was it.

Auction night was as nerve-racking as it was exhilarating. In this post-COVID world, it was reassuring to see a full room of bidders. With 236 online participants and major lots being eagerly contested, it became clear early in the evening that we were witnessing something special.

With a 91% sale rate and realised total of $4,876,875 IBP, the results speak for themselves. Despite a sober prediction from the AFR prior to the auction, we were proud to demonstrate that beautiful pre-war art remains highly coveted. At Leonard Joel, our mantra is to celebrate collections – and in this case, I believe we did so successfully: for the owner of the collection, for the public, and now for the collectors who are enjoying these works in their new homes and environments.

The cycle of collecting never ends, and that’s what I find endlessly fascinating about our economy of beautiful things and interesting people. All credit to Wiebke Brix, Amanda North, Hannah Ryan, and the entire art team for the meticulous research and presentation that went into this historic Australian auction.