Fine Art | Cordys

Bringing New Zealand historical, modern and contemporary art, sculpture and photography together with a wide rage of international art covering many disciplines and media we present monthly a selection of work from sought after and celebrated makers through to decorative pieces at accessible prices. Under this section we offer paintings, watercolours, etchings and engravings, bronzes, limited editioned prints and photography.

BB9 - 0146

Sir James Guthrie RA PRSA (1859-1930) 'Sketch' (for 'Schoolmates'),

oil on canvas, initialled and entitled 'Sketch. Cockburnspath'. 345 x 270mm. Note: This exquisite oil portrait is the 'sketch' for the head of the oldest girl in Guthrie’s renowned painting 'Schoolmates' of 1884 (Museum voor Schone Kunsten Gent). Painted at Cockburnspath, Scotland. It includes two local girls and a boy walking home from school along a country lane. Provenance: By family descent, from James Guthrie’s older sister Hannah Longmuir Hay (née Guthrie). Hannah emigrated to New Zealand in 1874 and married Thomas Hay. She made several trips back to Scotland where presumably she was given this painting (and the other Guthrie work in this auction). They have remained in the family, in New Zealand, since then. Note: Hannah had three brothers; two emigrated to New Zealand and were doctors in Christchurch. The other, James Guthrie (the youngest and celebrated painter) remained in Scotland. Our vendors grandmother (Nancy Hay McKellar) travelled to Scotland in the 1920s and stayed with James Guthrie (her great uncle). James Guthrie was associated with The Glasgow Boys: Through the 1880s and 1890s, the Glasgow Boys were interpreting and expanding the canon of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting. Their subject matter featured rural, prosaic scenes from in and around Glasgow. Their colourful depictions attempted to capture the many facets of the character of Scotland. It is noted online from 'Gandalf's Gallery' that 'James Guthrie painted Schoolmates in Cockburnspath, the Scottish village where he lived from 1883 onwards. He lived among the villagers, and their rural lifestyle became the subject of his paintings. In keeping with the naturalistic style of the times Guthrie avoided anecdote in his work and observed his surroundings in a manner that was very down-to-earth. The depiction exudes a natural simplicity in which the children bear their poverty proudly and with spirit. They stare straight ahead and have no contact with one another. Their individual isolation is further emphasised by their portrayal in profile. The daily journey to and from school therefore becomes something of a ritual. The children’s clothing, the country lane and the landscape are all painted very loosely, while the faces are depicted realistically and with a photographic attention to detail.' Please note: Catalogue update. This work is oil on CANVAS.

Realised: $36,000

BB4 - 0149

Guy Ngan (1926-2017) '95' (Habitation) - unique bronze sculpture, signed, numbered 95 and dated 1978. Raised on white alabaster base. 143 x 143 x 111mm. Provenance: Private estate Auckland, purchased Wellington c.1980.

Realised: $28,000

AA10 - 0143

Major-General Horatio Gordon Robley (UK/NZ 1840-1930) 'Portrait of the Chief "Te Manawa"'

watercolour, extensively detailed and signed in ink on reverse 'Past New Zealand Art - an old warrior, portrait of the Chief "Te Manawa" Arawa tribe famous for his face "Moko" names of tattooing....'. 240 x 178mm.

Realised: $8,000

BB9 - 0138

Fassett Burnett (NZ 1932-) 'North Cape',

oil on board, signed and dated '76. 1015 x 1220mm.

Realised: $8,000

BB9 - 0131

John Gibb (1831-1909) Canterbury landscape,

oil on canvas, signed 'J. Gibb 1881' lower right; original H. Fisher & Son paper label to reverse. 610 x 910mm. Provenance: Ex. The Lex & Hannie Van Hessen Collection, Netherlands. Sold Dunbar Sloane Ltd. 10/08/2016, Lot No. 52.

Realised: $7,000

BB2 - 0337

James McLachlan Nairn (1859-1904) 'Foveaux Strait',

oil on canvas, signed and dated 'Jas M. Nairn/ 96' lower right; inscribed with artist and title on original E. Murray Fuller, Wellington paper label to reverse. 305 x 455mm. Note: A similar work is held in the Auckland Art Gallery Collection entitled 'A hot afternoon, Kaikoura shore'.

Realised: $6,000