NSW: Whiteley painting saved from a puddle

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-1999
NSW: Whiteley painting saved from a puddle

It's been revealed BRETT WHITELEY'S painting The Jacaranda Tree -- which sold for a record
$1.9 million at auction last night -- was once saved from a puddle of water.

The 4.6 metre by two metre work was bought by an anonymous Australian bidder at a
Christie's auction for $1,982,500 - a record for a work by an Australian 20th century artist.

WHITELEY'S sister FRANNIE HOPKIRK told ABC radio she is gobsmacked by the price, especially
after rescuing it from a puddle of water in his studio several years ago.

She laughs at the thought of a painting she had jacked up on bricks now being worth so much
money.

WHITELEY died of a heroin overdose in 1992 but Ms HOPKIRK says the sale would have blown
him out of the water.

Art dealer MICHAEL NAGY says the buyer will keep the painting in Australia.

AAP RTV sp/pjg/shm

KEYWORD: CHRISTIES (SYDNEY)

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