ARKLEY FIRES UP THE ART MARKET WITH RECORD $2.5M SALE AS D+H LEADS THE WAY WITH $16.6M YTD TOTAL
With enthusiastic attendance at viewings in Sydney and Melbourne the fortnight prior, Deutscher and Hackett’s first Evening Sale of Important Australian and International Fine Art for 2025 held at its Sydney premises on Wednesday 7 May further consolidated the firm’s market-leading reputation, culminating in the impressive total of $12.4 million (inc. BP) overall – the highest achieved for the opening season of art auctions in Australia this year. Featuring outstanding examples of Australian Impressionist through to Contemporary art, the expertly curated selection of 75 lots was keenly contested, attracting spirited bidding across all platforms and realising the exceptional clearance rates of 120% by value and 81% by volume.
Particularly noteworthy was the sale of the stunning cover lot, Howard Arkley’s joyous kitsch wonderland, Neapolitan delight, 1993 (est: $1,000,000 – 1,500,000) for $2,454,545 (inc. BP) – not only a new auction record for the artist, but the highest price for a work of art sold at auction in Australia in 2025, continuing D+H’s record of achieving the highest price annually for the past four years. Following D+H’s recent success with exquisite Venetian views by much-admired Australian Impressionist, Arthur Streeton, a stellar result was similarly realised for the artist’s shimmering La Salute, c.1908 – selling for $1,472,727 (inc. BP) against pre-auction estimates of $450,000 – 650,000. Strong results were also achieved for works by John Brack, Grace Cossington Smith, Arthur Boyd and Clarice Beckett. With D+H’s auction sales for 2025 now totalling an unparalleled $16.6 million, these latest results decisively place the D+H team and its expertise at the forefront of Australian and International consignments.
TOP TEN RESULTS
HOWARD ARKLEY
Neapolitan delight, 1993
ESTIMATE: $1,000,000 – 1,500,000
Sold for $2,454,545 (inc. BP)
ARTHUR STREETON
La Salute, 1908
ESTIMATE: $450,000 – 650,000
Sold for $1,472,727 (inc. BP)
GRACE COSSINGTON SMITH
The winter tree, Turramurra, 1935
ESTIMATE: $250,000 – 300,000
Sold for $675,000 (inc. BP)
JOHN BRACK
Seven on the table, 1990
ESTIMATE: $400,000 – 600,000
Sold for $650,455 (inc. BP)
ARTHUR STREETON
Brander’s Ferry, 1889
ESTIMATE: $500,000 – 700,000
Sold for $613,636 (inc. BP)
ARTHUR BOYD
Sleeping bridegroom with red bouquet, 1961 – 62
ESTIMATE: $350,000 – 450,000
Sold for $613,636 (inc. BP)
JOHN BRACK
Iceland poppies, 1954
ESTIMATE: $400,000 – 600,000
Sold for $589,091 (inc. BP)
IAN FAIRWEATHER
Tombs in Peking, 1936
ESTIMATE: $400,000 – 500,000
Sold for $429,545 (inc. BP)
JOHN PETER RUSSELL
Portofino, c.1914
ESTIMATE: $400,000 – 600,000
Sold for $405,000 (inc. BP)
JEFFREY SMART
The park, 1959
ESTIMATE: $350,000 – 450,000
Sold for $392,727 (inc. BP)
VIEW RESULTS