Eastern Suburbs Pink Home 1991

This picture was first documented in a Christie’s auction in 2001, claiming a Tolarno provenance. Initially, it was not included in the present catalogue, as it appeared to lack a verified history prior to 2001. However, a copy of a Tolarno receipt has now been seen, confirming its provenance.

Given the inscribed date, the work is unusual in several respects, although parallels may be found in other paintings of the period. The Queensland Art Gallery’s Stucco Home (1991), for example, is in a similar large square format. The yellow sky is a rarity, but a mainly yellow sky appears in Shadow Factories 1989. And the strikingly vivid colour, and frequent use of sprayed line-work in hues other than black, although generally more familiar from Arkley’s later works, may be compared with Bungalow Home 1989.

The present painting was mentioned (although said to date from 1988) in the revised edition of Spray published in 2001, as an example of the way gum trees and other natural motifs play an increasing prominent role in Arkley’s suburban house imagery during his later years – an interesting observation that merits further consideration.

Provenance

• Purchased from Tolarno by the present owner, July 1991 (copy of receipt sighted, August 2020)
• Auctioned by Christie’s, Melbourne, 3 April 2001, lot 59 (ill., dets.as shown here; est.$150-180,000; not sold)
• Auctioned by Deutscher & Hackett, Melbourne, 11 Nov.2020, lot 4 (details and ill.as shown here; est.$700-900,000; sold for $700,000 + B/P [$859,060])

Literature

• The Age 31 March 2001, p.20 (mention of Christie’s auction, with photo)
• Spray [2001], p.134 (as cited above; not reproduced)