Australia links made this miniature a sleeper

Last month, a nondescript portrait miniature estimated at £200-300 sold for £90,000 -- excluding buyer's commission. Why?

It depicted John White, the chief surgeon for the First Fleet -- the 11 ships that sailed to Botany Bay in 1786 to establish a convict settlement.

Moreover, the unframed oil on ivory was by the convict and artist Thomas Watling (1762-1806). It was signed and dated 1792, the year Watling finally reached the colony after being sentenced to 14 years for forging banknotes in Dumfries. . .

Over the next two years Watling made many drawings which form the basis of the important studies of wildlife, landscapes, and the indigenous people of Australia known as the Watling Collection, now housed in the zoological library of the Natural History Museum in London. . .

Watling's only major known surviving work is Sydney in 1794, a large oil painting which hangs in the Dixson Gallery, Sydney. There are some sketches and finished drawings, a few of which have appeared on the market, but the discovery of this miniature appears to be something of a first.

Full article here. A miniature specialist's take here. The painting referenced above, more generally referred to as Sydney Cove, has a catalogue entry here.

ADDENDUM: The Gorringes catalog entry lists a presale estimate of £3,000-5000, so it would appear that the estimate was increased after the publication of the printed catalog.

Posted by David on January 19, 2008 4:22 PM