Hodgkins painting hits record $410,000

By NATASHA HARRIS

Work by one of New Zealand's greatest women artists, Frances Hodgkins, was auctioned for a record $410,000 yesterday, while her compatriots Colin McCahon and Charles Goldie failed to sell.

Auctioneer Peter Webb said he was surprised the McCahon and Goldie paintings did not sell but added that the works were being negotiated, after not meeting the reserve limit.

Mr Webb said he had expected Hodgkins' Still Life with Landscape painting from 1930 to reach between $250,000 and $350,000.

Joseph Mallord William Turner's Rotterdam painting was sold for $200,000, well below the $250,000-$350,000 estimate.

Goldie's Te Aho, a Noted Waikato Warrior (1905) and McCahon's No 2 (1965) are expected to be sold today.