An Introduction to The Stock-In-Trade of Savill Galleries, by Justin Turner, CEO

Denis Savill has been a pre-eminent figure in the Australian art world since the early 1980s, but earlier this year publicised his intention to close Savill Galleries at the end of 2016. 

Menzies is delighted to have been appointed to auction the stock-in-trade of Savill Galleries and to be playing a role in the closing chapter of one of Australias most respected commercial art institutions.

Denis Savill began his career as a private art dealer in the late 1970s before acquiring the Gordon Marsh Gallery, Double Bay in 1981. In 1984 the business was renamed Savill Galleries and has operated from its present location in Hargrave Street, Paddington since 1985.

Over the course of the past three decades Savill Galleries has hosted in excess of 100 solo, survey and mixed artist exhibitions and has become synonymous with the exhibition and sale of the very best of Australian art. Most of Australias state galleries, as well as the National Gallery of Victoria and the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra have at some point exhibited paintings with Savill Galleries provenance and it is fair to say that many of Australias finest private collections would be incomplete without the finesse of Denis Savill.

Artists whose works featured regularly at Savill Galleries include Brett Whiteley, Arthur Boyd, Ray Crooke, Garry Shead, Charles Blackman, Sidney Nolan, William Dobell, Donald Friend, Margaret Olley, John Olsen and Robert Dickerson, all of whom feature in this auction. The quality and diversity of these works bear testament to the knowledge and eye of Denis Savill.

This auction affords Menzies clientele a final opportunity to acquire a work from one of Australias highest profile commercial galleries prior to its closure at the end of this year. 

Prospective buyers can take some comfort from the fact that this is one auction where they will not be competing against the dynamic Mr Savill in the saleroom!

Menzies wishes to thank Denis and his partner, Anne Clarke, as well as long-serving gallery manager Virginia Morrow for their friendship and patronage since our inception in 1998 and for entrusting the sale of this important collection to Menzies. 

Justin Turner | Menzies Chief Executive Officer

Watch a video by our Art Specialist, Tim Abdallah, on The Stock-in-Trade of Savill Galleries.