Auction this week - Thursday 6:30pm Mon, 07 Nov 2011

• Important, Early & Rare auction is this Thursday 10th November at 6:30pm - viewing is daily until mid-day on the day of auction. Make sure you drop in to view this extraordinary collection because as always it is unlikely you would see them in the same room again! Open daily 9-5:30 then day of sale until mid-day. View the full Catalogue
• On view this week a new work by Brian Dahlberg of St Stephens Chapel - one of a series of works the artist has been working on for some time featuring this historic Parnell landmark built in 1856. Brian Dalberg, born 1944 in Ashburton was educated at Nelson and Wanganui Colleges. He was a pupil of Dame Louise Henderson with whom he studied landscape, portraiture and life drawing. His use of streamlined form imbues each work a modernity and almost meditative stillness. Subtly patterned skies and foregrounds, visible from certain vantage points, often feature.
• Frances Hodgkins at the newly refurbished Auckland Art Gallery - a must see exhibition of never before seen paintings by one of New Zealand's best-loved modernist artists. New Zealand born Hodgkins was a key figure in British modernism and, when she died in England in 1947, was regarded as one of Britain's leading artists. There are two watercolours by Frances Hodgkins in our auction this week, one of these was recently discovered after being held in a private collection since 1941 - it is in original condition and offered in it's original frame.
• Felix Kelly - still doing our best to locate works by this artist for private treaty sale - we have received a few smaller consignments but looking for something substantial - if you know the whereabouts of such a work that may be on the market then don't hesitate to contact us as we have ready buyers.

• Similarly we are assisting in locating works by Dunedin born Grace Joel 1865-1924 to be included in a forthcoming book on the artist. If you know the whereabouts of some of her works please let us know so we can forward this on to the author.
• Last week An Untitled black and white drypoint and engraving by Jackson Pollock, printed by Gabor Peterdi and inscribed "2nd proof 1967," fetched US$102,000 at Swann Galleries New York, making it the most expensive Pollock print ever sold. In other auction news Gustav Klimt's "Litzlberg am Attersee' made US$40 million at Sothebys last week proving that good art is always sought after, even in economically challenging times.
• Finally if you are lucky enough to find yourself in Madrid in the coming months, the Prado museum is hosting a large exhibition of European art, including Rembrandt and Caravaggio lent by Russia's Hermitage, a rare opportunity to see such work outside the vast St. Petersburg museum. We had a visitor to the viewing over the weekend who was involved in it's hanging and has said it is truly exceptional! Opens tomorrow. However, if you are in St Petersburg why not just go to the Hermitage!