Lot 25
  • 25

Attributed to Nicholas working 1950s-1960s NAMORRORDDO SPIRIT

Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 AUD
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Description

  • Attributed to Nicholas
  • NAMORRORDDO SPIRIT
  • bears title 'NAMARALTO GIANT [sic]', date 1949, size and numbered 119 on the reverse
  • natural earth pigments on eucalyptus bark
  • 93 BY 30.8CM

Provenance

Painted in Western Arnhem Land in the late 1950s 
Private collection

Condition

The bark is in good condition overall and the pigment is stable. There has been restoration carried out along the bottom edge of the painting and the feet appear to have been restored and retouched by a conservator. It is possible, although uncertain, that there has been further restoration to the white pigment on various areas of the figure
"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."

Catalogue Note

The artist is almost certaintly the same as the one identified as 'Nicholas' in three paintings collected by Dr. Stuart Scougall in about 1961 and gifted to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. These are illustrated in Hetti Perkins, Crossing Country: The Alchemy of Western Arnhem Land Art, Sydney: Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2004, pp.41-42.

The date on the reverse of the bark is likely to be incorrect and it is most probable that this painting was produced in the late 1950s.