It was a big week for art auctions; Sotheby’s grossed $14.2 million over May10 & 11, their best result since May 2007. Sounds like a buoyant, confident economy. They were starry shows with paintings by John Brack and Fred Williams achieving colossal results. A colonial watercolour by Jacob Janssen of Government House Sydney 1850 achieved $75,000, more than double its higher estimate, hopefully going to a public collection. However my favourite was a painting by Roy de Maistre The Studio Table 1928 (above). The painting has wonderful provenance.

The Studio Table was exhibited at Macquarie Galleries in 1928. In the previous year, Roy de Maistre met Sydney Courtauld, daughter of Samuel Courtauld; she was in Australia on her honeymoon with Rab Butler. When de Maistre moved to London in 1930 he renewed his friendship with Sydney and Rab Butler. He painted portraits of various members of the Courtauld/ Butler families and became close to Samuel Courtauld, the great benefactor of the Tate Gallery and founder of the Courtauld Institute of Art, in Somerset House.

De Maistre’s association with the Butlers continued, indeed Sydney Butler helped finance his studio in Eccleston Street. It is fascinating to think of his connection with such a giant Conservative political figure as Rab Butler. The Studio Table was acquired by Samuel Courtauld around 1930 and remained in the family until this sale where it doubled the lower estimate.