William Dobell (1899 - 1970)

SHEK ON THE VERANDAH, THE ARTIST’S HOUSE, WANGI, c.1948

gouache on paper

15.0 x 23.0 cm (irregular)

signed and inscribed lower right: "Shek" Will Dobell

Gift from the artist to Sir Laurence and Lady Olivier in 1948, then accompanying the book Ure Smith, S., The Art of William Dobell, 1946 (inscribed: 'To Sir Lawrence [sic] and Lady Olivier in appreciation, Bill Dobell', dated 1948)
Private collection, Melbourne

Girl in a Pram (Study for Suzanne and the Goldfish), c1948, gouache on paper on card, 15.0 x 20.0 cm, Deutscher and Hackett, Melbourne, 16–7 April 2008, lot 33
According to Brian Adams in his later biography of Dobell, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh showed great interest in Dobell's work during the time they spent in Sydney in July 1948, while appearing with the Old Vic Company at the Tivoli Theatre.