Property of Margaret McCardell

Description:

Sir Russell Drysdale (UK/Australia, 1912-1981), Aborigine, Ink on Paper, ink and wash on paper, signed lower right, depicting a standing figure, matted and framed. Frame size: 22 1/4 in. x 18 3/4 in. Provenance: according to the consignor this was purchased in the mid 1970's from Faye and Arthur Simpson who were art dealers in Melbourne.

Drysdale was born in Bognor Regis, England, to a pastoralist family, settling with them in Melbourne in 1923. He visited Europe in 1932 where he was influenced by the paintings of the post-impressionists and school of Paris. From 1935 to 1938 he studied under George Bell and Arnold Shore in Melbourne, then with Iain McNab at the Grosvenor School, London, and at La Grande Chaumière, Paris. Drysdale returned to Australia in 1939, where he intended to enlist for military service, but was prevented because of his defective vision. Drysdale moved to Sydney in 1940 and held his first solo exhibition at Macquarie Galleries in 1942. In 1944 Drysdale was commissioned by the Sydney Morning Herald to record the effect of serious drought conditions in western New South Wales. The publication of his drawings led to recognition of his great skill as a draughtsman.Drysdale exhibited regularly in London in the early 1950s with the support of British art historian Kenneth Clark, and was chosen with Sidney Nolan and William Dobell to represent Australia at its inaugural showing at the Venice Biennale in 1954. A visit to North Queensland in 1951, the first of many subsequent journeys throughout northern and western Australia, prompted studies of Aboriginal people, which evolved into numerous paintings during the late 1950s and 60s. These works eloquently convey the dispossession of indigenous Australians during this era when they were obliged to integrate into the country towns of far north Queensland. He was knighted for his contributions to Australian art in 1969 and number of surveys of his work have been held by the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 1960, the National Gallery of Australia in 1997 and by the Tarrawarra Museum of Art in 2013. (Art Gallery NSW)

Measurements: Height: by sight 14 1/8 in. x Width: 10. 1/8 in.

Condition:

Good condition, not viewed out of frame, mat burn.

Notice to bidders: The absence of a condition report does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections, or the conditions of aging. PHOTOS MAY ALSO ACT AS A CONDITION REPORT. Please review all photos closely prior to bidding. Complete condition reports are available by request, no later than 24 hours prior to the live auction. All lots are offered and sold 'AS IS’, and Everard Auctions will not provide refunds based on condition. Timepiece movements, lighting and electrics have not been tested, and art has not been examined out of the frame unless otherwise stated. We do not guarantee the condition of frames. By placing a bid, either in person, by phone, absentee or via the Internet, you signify that you agree to be bound by the conditions of sale. Everard Auctions does not provide any shipping or packing services. We recommend that all potential buyers obtain pack/ship estimates prior to bidding. Please contact us for a list of recommended shippers.