The son of the late Australian actor, writer, painter, and scholar Barry Humphries is auctioning his father's extensive collection of art and books, which includes works by Charles Conder, Oscar Wilde, and Arthur Boyd. The auction is expected to raise up to £4 million.
Oscar Humphries, the son of the late legendary Australian actor, writer, painter, and scholar Barry Humphries, is overseeing the auction of his father's extensive art and book collection. The collection, amassed over more than half a century, comprises 250 items ranging from works by Anglo-Australian impressionist artist Charles Conder to a first edition of Oscar Wilde's inscribed to Leonard Smithers.
Humphries jnr recalls their relationship, marked by both public disagreements and warm reunions, highlighting how their shared passion for art brought them closer despite their differences. He explains how their fierce debates about art, particularly his father's aversion to contemporary art, motivated him to pursue a career in the field. Oscar recounts the collection's prominence in their family home, where paintings and sculptures intertwined with thousands of books. He emphasizes his father's deep affection for Conder's work, having owned what was once described as the world's largest private collection. He suggests Conder's art resonated with his father's experience as an Australian artist who found success in London, surrounded by influential figures. The collection showcases a significant portion of Conder's work, including the 1901 painting, with Oscar pointing out the portrayal of Normandy's beach and scrub, suggesting a hint of homesickness in the foreground. Humphries jnr believes the collection reflects his father's deep connection to Australian art as a way to remember his homeland. He shares anecdotes about his father's relationships with prominent Australian and international artists, mentioning encounters with Arthur Boyd, Sidney Nolan, Patrick White, and John Olsen. He describes their shared experiences, including late-night ice-cream factory shifts and painting expeditions to the Flinders Ranges, highlighting the camaraderie and lasting friendships forged within the art world
ART AUCTION BARRY HUMPHRIES OSCAR HUMPHRIES CHARLES CONDER OSCAR WILDE AUSTRALIAN ART
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