Art: McIntyre paintings head sale offerings

By DON MILNE

More years ago than one likes to remember I interviewed the judge for New Zealand's premier art awards of the era. An eminent overseas critic and art authority, he was relaxed and good company, especially over a few drinks.

Apart from the winner, I asked, were there any other painters who especially took his eye?

Well, he said, there's this man who's been around for quite a while and is really an outstanding artist - much better than I had expected, from what I had been told. I thought his entry was the best, most honest, in the show - but if I had given him the award I would have been crucified by the Auckland art establishment.

The artist's name? Peter McIntyre. And the judge was dead right in that judgment of the likely reaction if he had given McIntyre the prize.

Yes, McIntyre was around for a long time (he died just five years ago, at the age of 85); he was prolific; his works seldom broke new ground; and he was very, very good at what he did. From the first works as a war artist on Crete and in North Africa and Italy, to the familiar landscapes and working people of New Zealand and, later, Asia, the Pacific and the American west, his paintings showed a special character that was distinctively his own.

His works come up frequently and sell well, although they never command the heights of other well-known artists of greater depth or innovation.

Place a McIntyre alongside a Hanly, a Hammond or a Hotere and there's no comparison; line him up against other landscape painters like Austen Deans, Peter Beadle or Douglas Badcock and he's ahead by a country mile.

Which is shown in his prices. A good McIntyre painting, such as King Country Autumn, which sold at Peter Webb Galleries in September, can fetch $20,000 today ($22,250 with buyer's premium and GST).

The International Art Centre has several, estimated at up to $18,000, on offer at its big sale in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Parnell, next Thursday evening. For those with shallower pockets and who want a McIntyre on their wall, there is a very evocative ink drawing of a King Country skyline, estimated at $1500 to $2500.

On the auction front, very little has happened in the past month, apart from Webb's regular affordable art auction last week. But art buyers and lovers (who are generally, but not always, the same thing) have a feast over the next few weeks. Time to look for those Christmas presents?

So, coming up: the International Art Centre's offering on Thursday also has two McCahons, a very fine Goldie portrait, several Lindauers (including a charming, very Victorian portrait of a young European girl with a basket of flowers, estimated at $35,000 to $50,000) and a number of Hoytes. (Why have so many works by this artist come on the market recently?) Frances Hodgkins, Raymond Ching, John Weeks, Peter Siddell and Charles Blomfield are also well represented.

Unhappy shareholders of Brierley Investments will be hoping for record prices for the paintings to be sold from that company's collection.

Cordy's next catalogue sale is on November 13 and 14.

Dunbar Sloane predicts a good offering at its antiques and art sale in the White Heron, Parnell, on December 3 and 4 (antiques on the Sunday, and art on Monday).

Webb's last major art, jewellery and antiques auction for the year will be on December 11, 12 and 13. From early reports, this also promises to be a big one, and will include further works from the Brierley collection.