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John Perceval 1923-2000


If you love Art of impeccable provenance, the art you want is at Galeria Aniela
 

John de Burgh Perceval AO is one of the most renowned Australian artists. Awards 1958 McCaughey Prize, 1960 Wynne Prize, 1991 Officer of the Order of Australia. 1966 Albert Hall Canberra held Perceval Retrospective. 1984 Heide Museum of Modern Art held Perceval Retrospective. 1992 National Gallery of Victoria. 2000 Galeria Aniela held Perceval Retrospective Australian National NEWS ABC TV.

In the 40's Perceval made a strong impact in Melbourne the Contemporary Art Society of Victoria. By the 60's Perceval achieved great artistic recognition and financial success.

John Perceval is a blue-chip artist, with a solid reputation for creating art that increases in value over time, offering an alternative investment. Blue-chip art usually sells for the high price at auctions Sulphur Smoke $589,000, Scudding Swans $690,000.  

PHOTO (1968): John Perceval and Arthur Boyd 'en plein air' painting

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Auctions

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Videos

 

John Perceval AO 1923-2000
Happy Farmer 1989 
 Oil on Canvas

92 x 122 cm

ENLARGE    Price:  ENQUIRE

John Perceval AO 1923-2000
Free Sunflowers   
 Oil on Board Paper-Board
 Image Size: 75 x 56 cm
Framed size: 90 x 72 cm
VIDEO ENLARGE Free Sunflowers
Details     Price: ENQUIRE

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John Perceval AO 1923-2000
Love Angel  
 Oil on Canvas
Image Size: 31 x 41 cm
Framed size:  41 x 51 cm

ENLARGE    Price: ENQUIRE

Click to Enlarge: John Perceval (1923-2000) Guardian Angel guiding the Boat in Deep Sea, Oil on Canvas, 91 x 92 cm

John Perceval AO 1923-2000
Sea Angel  
 Oil on Canvas
 Image size: 91 cm x 92 cm

ENLARGE    Price: ENQUIRE

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John Perceval AO 1923-2000
Angel with Flowers 
 Oil on Paper
Image size: 54 x 74 cm
Framed Size: 74 x 94 cm

ENLARGE    Price: ENQUIRE

Click to Enlarge: John Perceval (1923-2000) 'Sunflowers' Oil on Canvas, 60 by 52 cm

John Perceval AO 1923-2000
Sunflowers on Crimson 
 Oil on Canvas
Image Size: 60 cm x 52 cm
Framed Size: 75 x 67 cm

ENLARGE    Price:  ENQUIRE 

Prices subject to change without a prior notice

John Perceval AO 1923-2000
Sapphire Blue Sunflowers
 Oil on Canvas
 Image Size: 89 x 89 cm
Framed size: 108 x 108 cm
Price: SOLD

John Perceval AO 1923-2000
Gold Sunflowers  
 Oil on Canvas
  Image: 46 x 36 cm
Framed: 61 x 51 cm
Price: 
SOLD

 VIDEO: Galeria Aniela Perceval Retrospective | Australian National NEWS| ABC TV

JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
Old Fishing Boat
 Oil on Canvas
 82 x102 cm
Price: SOLD

JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
Sunflowers in Black vase on Purple
 Oil on canvas
  60 cm x 52 cm

Price: SOLD

 

JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
Williamstown
Fishing 1988
 Oil on Canvas
 82 x 102 cm
Price: SOLD

JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
B
rilliant Sunflowers
 Oil on Canvas
 82 x 82 cm
Price: SOLD

 


 JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
The Big Boat
 Oil on Canvas
 82 x 102 cm
Price: SOLD

 JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
Sun in the Wheatfield
 Oil on canvas
 80 cm x 80 cm
Price: SOLD

 

JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000  
Ships at Williamstown 1988 (illustrated)
 Oil on Canvas
Size : 94 x 124 cm
Price:
SOLD

JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
Sunflowers in Red vase on Purple
 Oil on canvas
  60 cm x 50 cm
Price: SOLD

 


JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
 Small Boats
  Oil on canvas
 82 x 102 cm
Price:  SOLD
John Perceval (1923-2000)' Sunflowers on Blue' Oil on canvas
JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
Sunflowers on Blue
 Oil on Canvas
  45 cm x 35 cm
Price: SOLD

 


 JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
Nuns in Jeopardy 1990
 Oil on canvas
 92 cm x 122 cm
Price: SOLD

 JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000

Title: Sunflowers
 Oil on canvas
 46 cm x 36 cm
Price: SOLD

 


JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
Williamstown Night Ship
 Oil on canvas
 60 x 92cm
Price: SOLD

JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
Queen Bee 1988
 Oil on canvas
 100 x 75 cm
Price: SOLD

 


JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
Pumpkin House
 Oil on canvas
 82 x 102 cm
Price: SOLD

 JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
The Farmer 1988
 Oil on canvas
 61 cm x 71 cm
Price: SOLD

 


 JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
 Light House, Small Boats
  Oil on canvas
 82 x 102 cm
Price:  SOLD
Click to Enlarge: John Perceval (1923-2000) Flowers 1948, Oil on Board, 38 x 42 cm
 JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
Flowers circa
1948
 Oil on Board
 38 x 42 cm
rice:
SOLD

 


 JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
Floating Mask 1990
 Oil on canvas
 71 x 81 cm
Price: SOLD

 JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000
Country Sun
 Oil on canvas
 32 x 41 cm
Price: SOLD
 

auction results

John De Burgh Perceval 1923-2000

Under the freedom of information we have compiled relevant details.

Details

Price excl. GST
 

Scudding Swans 1959

Oil & tempera on board, 91 x 122 cm, Menzies, Australian & International Fine Art, Sydney, 25/03/2010, Lot No. 53

$690,000 

Sulphur Smoke 1959

Oil & tempera on composition board,

91 x 121.5 cm, Deutscher~Menzies, Australian & International Paintings, Sydney, 05/03/2002, Lot No. 37

$589,000 

The Revellers 1947-48

Oil on canvas,

78.5 x 105 cm, Deutscher~Menzies, Australian & International Fine Art, Sydney, 14/06/2006, Lot No. 17

$540,000 

Fisherman's Sights, Williamstown, 1956

Oil on composition board,

91.5 x 121 cm, Deutscher and Hackett, The Gould Collection of Important Australian Art, Sydney, 15/03/2017, Lot No. 6

$488,000 

The Cornfield 1959

Oil on composition board,

84 x 117 cm, Menzies, Australian & International Fine Art, Sydney, 25/03/2010, Lot No. 48

$456,000 

The Moored Shark Boat, 1959

Oil on canvas on board,

84.5 x 115 cm, Menzies, Important Australian and International Fine Art and Sculpture, Melbourne, 24/09/2015, Lot No. 39

$454,091 

French Nuns 1948

Oil, tempera, resin on canvas,

82.5 x 98 cm, Sotheby's, Important Australian Art, Sydney, 16/08/2017, Lot No. 10

$451,400 

The Pottery, 1948

Oil, resin, tempera on canvas,

81 x 91.5 cm, Deutscher and Hackett, Important Australian + International Fine Art, Melbourne, 04/05/2016, Lot No. 10

$427,000 

The Man 1942

Oil & tempera on board,

122 x 91 cm, Sotheby's, Important Australian & New Zealand Art (lots 1-98) | Important Australian Art from The J.G.L. Collection (lots 99-137), Sydney, 16/05/2018, Lot No. 103

$353,800 

Old Hulk, Williamstown 1956

Enamel & tempera on composition board,

78.5 x 114 cm, Bonhams & Goodman, Australian, International & Aboriginal Fine Art, Melbourne, 25/11/2008, Lot No. 21

$348,000 

Lime Quarry, Lilydale, 1956

Oil on canvas,

80 x 113.5 cm, Deutscher and Hackett, 100 Important Australian Paintings, Melbourne, 16/04/2008, Lot No. 41

$312,000 

Nativity I

Oil on canvas on board,

84 x 79 cm, Christies, Australian & International Paintings, Melbourne, 19/04/2005, Lot No. 35

$295,000 

Windmill and the Rapids

Oil & tempera on board,

91.5 x 122 cm, Smith & Singer, former Sotheby's Australia, Important Australian & International Art, Sydney, 20/04/2021, Lot No. 14

$294,545 

The Hull, Williamstown, 1956

Oil on composition board,

61 x 71 cm, Deutscher and Hackett, The Gould Collection of Important Australian Art, Sydney, 15/03/2017, Lot No. 5

$292,800 

Ship's Graveyard 1956

Oil & tempera on board,

72 x 121 cm, Sotheby's, Important Australian Art, Sydney, 08/05/2012, Lot No. 6

$264,000 

Black Swans at Williamstown 1956

Oil on composition board,

76.5 x 110 cm, Deutscher~Menzies, Australian & International Paintings, Sculpture and Works on Paper, Melbourne, 25/04/1999, Lot No. 63

$244,500 

Night Watch 1957

Oil on board,

76 x 105.5 cm, Bonhams, The Grundy Collection, Sydney, 26/06/2013, Lot No. 15

$219,600 

Low Tide

Oil on canvas on board,

76 x 106.5 cm, Christies, Australian & International Paintings, Melbourne, 01/05/2000, Lot No. 222

$211,500 

Pleasure Craft

Oil on composition board,

87 x 121 cm, Sotheby's, Important Australian Art, Melbourne, 24/11/2008, Lot No. 44

$198,000 

Breaking of the Strike

Oil on canvas,

72 x 93 cm, Sotheby's, Fine Australian Paintings, Melbourne, 14/08/1989, Lot No. 345

$198,000 

Autumn Leaves

Tempera & oil on board,

89 x 120 cm, Sotheby's, Australian and International Art, Melbourne, 21/11/2006, Lot No. 7

$168,000 

Boats at Williamstown - Akuna

Oil on board,

72 x 121 cm, Sotheby's, Fine Australian Paintings, Melbourne, 24/07/1988, Lot No. 349

$165,000 

Harbour Trust, Williamstown 1967-1968

Oil on canvas,

91.7 x 122.5 cm, Sotheby's, The David Newby Collection of Australian Art; Important Australian Art, Sydney, 03/05/2017, Lot No. 34

$164,700 

Scourge of Job

Oil on board,

73.5 x 69 cm, Sotheby's, Fine Australian Paintings and Drawings, Melbourne, 30/07/1986, Lot No. 30

$154,000 

River Forest 1959

Oil on composition board,

86 x 108 cm, Sotheby's, Important Australian Art, Melbourne, 14/05/2013, Lot No. 11

$146,400 

Boats at Williamstown

Oil on canvas on board,

86.5 x 102 cm, Sotheby's, Fine Australian Paintings, Melbourne, 24/07/1988, Lot No. 408

$143,000 

Boy Crying in a Carlton Street 1944

Oil on board,

70 x 39 cm, Joel Fine Art, Important Australian & International Art, Melbourne, 30/10/2007, Lot No. 39

$137,346 

Boats at Williamstown, c. 1947

Oil on composition board,

74.3 x 101 cm, Sotheby's, Fine Australian Paintings, Melbourne, 18/11/1996, Lot No. 134

$134,500 

Richmond Landscape 1944

Oil on canvas,

74.5 x 91 cm, Deutscher~Menzies, Australian & International Paintings, Sculpture and Works on Paper, Melbourne, 24/11/1999, Lot No. 53

$123,500 

Bush Scene 1959

Oil on board,

85.5 x 115.5 cm, Mossgreen Auctions, The Collection of Warren & Bunty Bonython (Art lots only), Adelaide, 04/05/2014, Lot No. 201

$117,120 

Flooded Creek 1960

Oil on composition board,

91.8 x 95.5 cm, Smith & Singer, Important Australian & International Art, Sydney, 24/06/2020, Lot No. 4

$116,591 

Fabian in the Garden, 1954

Oil on composition board,

81 x 96 cm, Deutscher and Hackett, Important Australian & International Fine Art; Important Indigenous Art, Melbourne, 29/11/2017, Lot No. 7

$115,900 

Boats on a Changing Tide, Mordialloc 1968

Oil on canvas,

91.4 x 122 cm, Smith & Singer, Important Australian & International Art, Sydney, 18/11/2020, Lot No. 5

$110,455 

Tug Boat in the Floating Dock (Williamstown) 1968

Oil on canvas,

91.4 x 122.3 cm, Sotheby's, Important Australian & International Art, Sydney, 11/05/2016, Lot No. 140

$109,800 

Ship in the River

Oil on canvas on board,

81 x 100 cm, Sotheby's, Fine Australian Paintings, Melbourne, 22/08/1994, Lot No. 109

$107,000 

Banksias at Rye 1959

Oil on board,

99 x 76.5 cm, Deutscher~Menzies, Fine Art Auction, Melbourne, 01/05/2002, Lot No. 46

$105,750 

 

 

Summer Into Autumn

Oil on canvas on board,

70 x 80 cm,
Est: $28,000-35,000, Sotheby's, Australian and International Art, Melbourne, 21/11/2006, Lot No. 2

$102,000

Arrival of the Lively Lady and The Floating Dock, Williamstown 1967

Oil on canvas,

91.5 x 122 cm, Deutscher~Menzies, Australian and International Fine Art, Sydney, 06/12/2006, Lot No. 29

$102,000

The Old Hulk (Williamstown)

Oil on board,

91 x 121 cm, Christies, Australian and European Pictures, Melbourne, 18/04/1994, Lot No. 103

$101,500

Acrobat Angel, C.1958

Glazed earthenware, signed on base: Perceval,

38 cm height, Est: $40,000-60,000, Deutscher and Hackett, The Gould Collection of Important Australian Art, Sydney, 15/03/2017, Lot No. 1

$97,600

For more information http://www.aasd.com.au/

Wikipedia

http://www.artindex.com.au/

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JOHN PERCEVAL AO Biography

Photo (1943): John Perceval (right) Arthur Boyd left Photograph Albert Tucker National Library of Australia

 

Photo (1958): John Perceval  left and Arthur Boyd right

1923 John de Burgh Perceval was born 1 February 1923 in Western Australia at Bruce Rock, Western Australia. Perceval birth name is Linwood Robert Steven South. He was the second child of Robert South and Dorothy née Dolton.

1925 Perceval parents separated. Perceval remained at his father's farm

1935 Perceval reunited with his mother in Melbourne in 1935. Following the marriage of his mother to William de Burgh Perceval, he changed his name to John and adopted the surname de Burgh Perceval.

1938 Perceval contracted polio, was hospitalized, took the opportunity to further his skills at drawing and painting.

1941 Perceval enlisted in the army in

1941 Perceval befriended Arthur Boyd

1944 after leaving the army John Perceval married Arthur Boyd's sister Mary and moved into the Boyd family home at Open Country, Murrumbeena. They had four children Matthew, Tessa Perceval, Celia Perceval and Alice.

1948 Perceval held his first solo exhibition at the Melbourne Book Club in 1948 and showed regularly with the Contemporary Art Society.

Perceval made an impact virtually as soon as he had begun to paint in the 1940s, when he exhibited in Melbourne in 1942 at the Contemporary Art Society of Victoria, Australia.

By the 50's and the 60's Perceval work had developed into an individual style giving him an artistic acclaim as well as the financial success.

1949 - 1955 Perceval concentrated on producing earthenware ceramics and helped to establish the Arthur Merric Boyd Pottery in Murrumbeena.

1956 Perceval has return to painting and produced a series of paintings of the famous Williamstown series and Gaffney's Creek.

1958 Perceval won McCaughey Prize

1959 Perceval signed the Antipodean Manifesto which shape of Australian contemporary art.

1960 Perceval won Wynne Prize

1963  Perceval moved to England

1963 Perceval held solo exhibitions in London, and travelled to Europe, before returning to Australia

1965 Perceval take up the first Australian National University Creative Fellowship. JOHN PERCEVAL National Gallery of Victoria

1966 Albert Hall, Canberra held Perceval first major Retrospective Exhibition.

1971 Author Margaret Plant published monograph of John Perceval

1974  Perceval committed himself to Larundel hospital, suffering from alcoholism and schizophrenia, where he remained until 1981.

1984  Heide Museum of Modern Art held PERCEVAL Retrospective

1991  John Perceval was awarded Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)

1991  National Gallery of Victoria organized Perceval Retrospective

1992 National Gallery of Victoria Melbourne organized Perceval Retrospective (1945-1992)

June 2000 Perceval 'Scudding Swans' sold for $552,500, the highest price for a living Australian painter (28/06/2000).

August 2000  Galeria Aniela organised PERCEVAL Retrospective (19 August -19 October 2000) with John Perceval encouragement and personal support and his manager, Ken McGregor.

19 August 2000 Justin Miller, Chairman Sotheby’s Australia open
JOHN PERCEVAL Retrospective - 80 paintings (1946-1999) on the ABC TV Australian National NEWS


15 October 2000 John Perceval died in Melbourne (aged 77) survived by his four children; Matthew, Tessa, Celia and Alice.

March 2010 John Perceval painting 'Scudding Swans' sold for $690,000.
 

JOHN PERCEVAL played a major role in the Antipodean group in the late 1950's in Melbourne.

Antipodean group reacted strongly against the promoters of non-figurative painting who followed the trends in the United States and suggested that representational painting was unfashionable and outdated.

Perceval was the member of the famous group known as the Angry Penguins who redefined Australian art in the 40s and the 50's. Other members included John and Sunday Reed, Joy Hester, Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd and Albert Tucker.

John de Burgh Perceval (1923-2000) is one of the Australia's most important 20th century artists (Australian Painter and Ceramicist) and remains the best-loved artist.

Perceval contribution to important historical group and the development of the contemporary Australian art is significant. All major public and private collections have acquired the representation of Perceval works.

With a contribution spanning nearly six decades, John Perceval created a relatively small body of work by comparison with artists like Arthur Boyd and Sidney Nolan, Perceval produced fewer than 600 original oil paintings.

VIDEO: ABC TV Australian National NEWS |Perceval Retrospective Exhibition in Galeria Aniela

 

Awards:

1958 McCaughey Prize

1960 Wynne Prize

1966 Albert Hall, Canberra held Perceval first major Retrospective Exhibition.

1984 Heide Museum of Modern Art held Perceval Retrospective Exhibition

1992 National Gallery of Victoria Melbourne organized John Perceval major Retrospective (1945-1992)

1991 Officer of the Order of Australia

2000 Galeria Aniela held Perceval Retrospective exhibition open by Justin Miller, Chairmen of Sotheby's Australia (19 August to 19 October held 80 paintings from 1946 to 1999) VIDEO: Australian National NEWS | the ABC TV

 

 

VIDEO: Australian National NEWS Perceval Retrospective filmed by the ABC TV

 

PHOTOS:

Photo (1998): John Perceval, Celia Perceval and Aniela in Perceval Melbourne Studio

 

PHOTO 1999: Aniela, Celia Perceval, and John Perceval

Perceval Retrospective was organized with the artist encouragement and support.

 

Justin Miler, Chairman Sotheby's Australia open Perceval Retrospective on 19 August 2000

 

ABC TV Arthur BOYD in Galeria Aniela filmed by Australian National NEWS

ABC TV Sunday Afternoon Best of BOYD exhibition in Galeria Aniela

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JOHN PERCEVAL Videos 

Click VIDEO: ABC TV australian National News, John Perceval Retrospective Exhibition at Galeria Aniela, August 2000

VIDEO  ABC TV Australian National News JOHN PERCEVAL Retrospective

Photo: JOHN PERCEVAL, Melbourne 1998

VIDEO gallery website: JOHN PERCEVAL Retrospective ABC TV the Australian National News

 
Angels Attending Scroll Down for more information

JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000

Love Angel

 Oil on Canvas

Measurements (image): 31 x 41 cm

Measurements (framed): 41 x 51 cm

Place of Execution: Melbourne, Victoria

Price may change without a prior notice ENQUIRE

 

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Angel with Flowers 1988  

JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000

Angel with Flowers 1988

Oil on paper board, Signed lower right: Perceval, Dated  lower right: 88

Image: 55 x 75 cm

Price may change without a prior notice ENQUIRE

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Farmer with Trees 1989
John Perceval (1923-2000) Farmer with Trees 1989, Oil on Canvas, 92 x 122 cm

JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000

Happy Farmer with Trees 1989

 Oil on canvas, Signed lower right Perceval and verso signed and dated '89

Image size: 92 x 122 cm

Price may change without a prior notice ENQUIRE 

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On the Ship in deep Sea
John Perceval (1923-2000) Guardian Angel guiding the Boat in Deep Sea, Oil on Canvas, 91 x 92 cm

JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000

Sea Angel

 Oil on Canvas

Image size: 91 x 92 cm

Place of Execution: Williamstown, Melbourne, Victoria

Price may change without a prior notice  ENQUIRE

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Sunflowers on Crimson circa 1988-90
John Perceval (1923-2000) 'Sunflowers' Oil on Canvas, 60 by 52 cm

 JOHN PERCEVAL1923-2000

Sunflowers on Crimson circa 1988-89

 Oil on canvas, signed lower left and sign verso

Measurements (image): 60 x 52 cm

Place of Execution: Melbourne, Victoria

NOTES:  This highly textured painting is Perceval signature work in typical swirling brush strokes with rich paintwork, superb composition, in characteristic expressive tone of colour.

 

Price may change without a prior notice - ENQUIRE 

Exhibited:

2000 "PERCEVAL Retrospective" Galeria Aniela Fine art Gallery, NSW, Australia

2000 Video "Perceval Retrospective" the ABC TV Australian National NEWS in Galeria Aniela

2001 "Tribute to JOHN PERCEVAL" Wagner Art Gallery, NSW, Australia

2003 "Masters of Art" Galeria Aniela Fine art Gallery, NSW, Australia

2005 "The Grand Masters" The Art Lounge Gallery - Edmund Capon Art Gallery of NSW

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FREE Sunflowers circa 1989 
JOHN PERCEVAL 1923-2000

VIDEO: "Free Sunflowers" JOHN PERCEVAL (1923-2000)

"Free Sunflowers" is a beautiful, rich and highly textured painting with clear and expressive tone of colour. Characteristically Perceval, it is the artist superb signature work with swirling brush strokes and warm tones beautifully composition. Perceval loved Vincent van Gogh's work and yet, Perceval Sunflowers are free of van Gogh inhibitions allowing the unconscious to come to the fore and releasing new and greater powers.  John Perceval Sunflowers come from his most powerful memory from his upbringing was of the golden fields of sunflowers on his father property in Western Australia. 'Free Sunflowers' emphasize Perceval strength as colorist achieving the most hues that can bring about joy. 

 Oil on paper board, Signed Lower left PERCEVAL

Measurement: 76 x 57 cm

Framed: 94 x 75 cm

Price may change without a prior notice - ENQUIRE

Exhibited:

2000 "PERCEVAL Retrospective" Galeria Aniela Fine art Gallery, NSW, Australia

2000 Video "Perceval Retrospective" the ABC TV Australian National NEWS in Galeria Aniela

2001 "Tribute to JOHN PERCEVAL" Wagner Art Gallery, NSW, Australia

2003 "Masters of Art" Galeria Aniela Fine art Gallery, NSW, Australia

2005 "The Grand Masters" The Art Lounge Gallery launched by Edmund Capon Art Gallery of NSW

 

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JOHN PERCEVAL 1923 - 2000

      

JOHN PERCEVAL has played a major role in the Antipodean group in the late 1950s in Melbourne and in 1959 he signed the Antipodean Manifesto which determined the shape of Australian contemporary art. Antipodean group reacted strongly against the promoters of non-figurative painting who followed the trends in the United States and suggested that representational painting was unfashionable and outdated. In 30 June 2000 Sotheby's sold John Perceval "Scudding Swans" (Williamstown series) for $552,500 it was then a record for a living Australian painter. In March 2002 Dutscher Menzies sold John Perceval "Sulphur Smoke" for $596,600.

John de Burgh Perceval AO (1 February 1923 - 15 October 2000) was a well-known Australian artist. Perceval was the last surviving member of a group known as the Angry Penguins who redefined Australian art in the 1940s. Other members included John and Sunday Reed, Joy Hester, Sidney Nolan, Arthur Boyd and Albert Tucker.

He was born Linwood Robert Steven South at Bruce Rock, Western Australia, the second child of Robert South (a wheat farmer) and Dorothy née Dolton. His parents separated in 1925 and he remained at his father’s farm until reunited with his mother in Melbourne in 1935. Following the marriage of his mother to William de Burgh Perceval, he changed his name to John and adopted the surname de Burgh Perceval.

John Perceval moved to Melbourne with his mother in 1934 attending a local boarding school, Trinity Grammar, here he had his first access to a large library, where the school’s collection of art books left a profound impact on the teenager. Greatly influenced by Van Gogh’s famous painting of the same title, Perceval’s first work Sunflowers (1935) captures the essence of Van Gogh’s work but Perceval’s own flair can be seen in its depth and unique textural qualities.

In 1938 Perceval contracted polio and was hospitalised, giving him the opportunity to further his skills at drawing and painting. When he contracted polio and was confined to a hospital bed, Perceval spent much of this time developing his skills in drawing and painting. Although he survived the infection, it seriously affected his neck muscles, speech patterns and left him with a permanent limp. These problems continued to give Perceval constant troubles throughout his life.

Enlisting in the army in 1941, following the outbreak of war in the Pacific, Perceval was assigned to the Army Survey Corps when he was rejected as unfit for military duty. In the army Perceval first met and befriended Arthur Boyd. During this time he used his drawing skills to become a draughtsman and soon met other young artists such as Albert Tucker, Sidney Nolan and Arthur Boyd. Becoming a close friend with Boyd, Perceval later met his sister, Mary whom he married in 1944. His associations with Boyd also allowed him to be introduced to the well-known art patrons John and Sunday Reed who helped establish his name within Australia’s art circles. After leaving the army and moving into the Boyd family home at Open Country, Murrumbeena, he married Boyd's younger sister Mary in 1944. Together he and Mary Boyd produced four children.

From 1943, and the aftermath of the war, Perceval began to produce joyful religious and genre paintings with richly textured surfaces. Although he was exhibiting regularly with the Contemporary Art Society, Perceval held his first one-man show at the Melbourne Book Club in 1948.

Establishing a pottery workshop at Murrumbeena with Arthur Boyd and Peter Herbst in 1944, between 1949 and 1955, Perceval turned to ceramic work and created a series of angel figures. Returning to painting in 1956, Perceval produced a series of spontaneous images depicting Williamstown, Gaffney’s Creek and a range of seascapes.

Perceval held his first solo exhibition at the Melbourne Book Club in 1948 and showed regularly with the Contemporary Art Society. Between 1949 and 1955 he concentrated on producing earthenware ceramics and helped to establish the Arthur Merric Boyd Pottery in Murrumbeena. Returning to painting in 1956 Perceval produced a series of images of Williamstown and Gaffney's Creek.

In 1959, Perceval became a member of the Antipodeans, a group of self-taught Australian painters who dramatically changed the local art scene in the 1940s and 50s. Working alongside Arthur Boyd, Albert Tucker, Sidney Nolan and Joy Hester, during his time as an Antipodean Perceval worked with passionate intensity to put his strong responses to nature onto canvas. Proving to be one his most creative periods, his palette and style had matured greatly to show subtle contrasts in tone and vibrant use of colour. In 1961 he began to receive wider recognition and was asked to contribute to the renowned Whitechapel Gallery’s 50 Australian Painters show in London. His work was also included in the 1962 Rebels and Precursors in Australia, London’s Tate Gallery in 1963 and later at Brazil’s Museum of Modern Art.

Moving to England in 1963 Perceval held solo exhibitions in London, and travelled to Europe, before returning to Australia in 1965 to take up the first Australian National University Creative Fellowship (Australian National University Creative Fellowship in Canberra). John Perceval, a major retrospective exhibition, was held at Albert Hall, Canberra in 1966. Author Margaret Plant's monograph John Perceval, was published in 1971.

However, despite his rising success, Perceval was tackling serious health problems. Suffering from alcoholism and schizophrenia in 1974 Perceval committed himself to the psychiatric hospital Larundel, Melbourne, where he spent nearly ten years of his life and remained until 1981. Perceval produced a small number of crayon sketches during this time and he did not seriously take up drawing and painting until 1987. Some of the images Perceval produced after his release from hospital reflect strong elements of tension and trauma. This can be seen in his works Jack-in-the-box with rooster lid (1987) and Feeding the Seagulls (1988) which include axe images and troubled expression. After Perceval left the hospital he again to begin producing jubilant and brilliant paintings with richly textured surfaces which brought him fame in the 50’s in his early artistic acclaim.

In 1984 John Perceval Retrospective Exhibition of Paintings was held at Heide Park and Art Gallery. Perceval created the prestigious Sunflowers series and also continued his bellowed Williamstown series of paintings. John Perceval established very strong emotional connection with Williamstown, a small Melbourne Harbour. Williamstown paintings formed Perceval first major show in 1956 bringing Perceval an immediate artistic acclaim and financial success. Perceval early Williamstown paintings are in the prestigious permanent collection of the National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne) and the Heide Art Gallery, Victoria (John and Sunday Reed Collection).

In 1990 National Gallery of Victoria organized John Perceval major Retrospective exhibition.

In 1991 Perceval was awarded Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), it was the year after the National Gallery of Victoria organised John Perceval Retrospective.

In 2000 JOHN PERCEVAL held his last major retrospective exhibition at
Galeria Aniela
officially opened by Justin Miller, Chairman Sotheby's Australia on Saturday, 19 August. The exhibition included 85 works, from as early as 1943, oil paintings, drawings, pastels and watercolours some works have not been previously seen. The exhibition held for 3 months was a fabulous success and canvassed by the ABC TV Australian National News.



Perceval continued with his art until his death in 2000. As the last of the original core of the Antipodeans, Perceval death was considered a great tragedy.

Prior to his death Scudding Swans (1959) sold for $552,500, a record for a living Australian painter. Perceval is survived by his four children, all of whom Celia Perceval, Tessa Perceval and Matthew Perceval are practicing artists today.

 

 
 

 

Photo 1998: John Perceval and Aniela in Perceval's Melbourne Studio
 

 

Founded in 1994, Galeria Aniela exhibited world-class artists and hosted celebrities such as Sir David Attenborough, Cameron O’Reilly and Hon Bob Hawke, Australian Prime Minister. Selling quality art of impeccable provenance Galeria Aniela built a strong standing in Australia and internationally.

Galeria Aniela provides an independent professional service and experienced guidance representing clients best interest in the art market. We offer friendly service that others are unable to match. Whether you are a first-time buyer, an astute investor or enthusiastic collector, our people focused approach ensures an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

We welcome the opportunity to speak with you, please feel free to contact us to discuss ways in which Galeria Aniela can assist you now and in the future.

video Galeria Aniela Fine Art broker (2023)

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If you consider buying or selling work of
Arthur Boyd, Brett Whiteley, Fred Williams, John Perceval
John Olsen, Charles Blackman, Garry Shead or another significant work of fine art, please contact us
 

 

The BOYD family exhibition in Galeria Aniela coup the front page Sydney Morning Herald, Australian National NEWS ABC TV and Sunday Afternoon ABC TV.

 

Video |Jamie Boyd, the Boyd family most important LIVING artist

 

John Perceval Retrospective won the Australian National NEWS ABC TV and Charles Blackman Retrospective conquer Australian Art Scream SBS TV.

 

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ABC TV National NEWS Boyd   Sunday Afternoon ABC TV BOYD   John Perceval AO Retrospective

 


Works of art live for generations, constantly reborn in the minds of the beholders to bring new meanings, new dreams, new ways of seeing and experiencing the world. Be part of this magic world of amazing fine art from the ocean of tranquillity to
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The vision of Galeria Aniela is to increase the awareness of Australian artists cultural contribution. With passion for art, hard work and dedication, we strive for high ideals to create a better future for the arts. When you purchase Art from Galeria Aniela, you make a valuable contribution to our mission of helping artists to make a living with their creations and together we make a difference.

 


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