Yirawala 1903 - 1976 UNTITLED (JUNBARBAR)

Likely to have been painted at Minjilang (Croker Island), Western Arnhem Land
Private collection

"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The inscription on the back of this bark painting suggests that the image is related to a family of giants, the 'Junbarbar', who were cannibals in ancestral times. Sandra Le Brun Holmes collected a series of six paintings (now in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia) about one of the giants, Mowani. These paintings are illustrated in Holmes, S. Le Brun, Yirawala: Painter of the Dreaming, Sydney: Hale & Iremonger, 1994, plates 105-110, with a description of the narrative on pages 148-49.