Meet The Specialist

What is your current position at Bonhams?

I am the Aboriginal art specialist at Bonhams, based in our Sydney office. Aboriginal art is offered through our Important Australian Art auctions two to three times a year. Our next sale will take place on 24 August.

Where are you from? And what inspired you to go into the art world?

My family is from Ferrara - a medieval city near Bologna in Italy, where I was born. My love of art was inspired by my aunt, an art historian in Rome, who would regularly take me to see the Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces in the Italian churches and galleries. I was instantly besotted. My passion for Aboriginal art came later, though it was always a part of my life – my family home was always filled with art, antiques and artefacts from all over the world, including Papua New Guinea and Australia. Bark paintings, boomerangs and works from the Kimberley region adorned the walls. Travelling to Kakadu National Park and seeing the rock art there as a child was a magical experience that has stayed with me, and undoubtedly led me to this field.

What was your first job?

I first interned at Sotheby’s in Sydney and was later offered a position as Administrator in the Aboriginal art department. It was an amazing time for the Aboriginal art market; I was fortunate enough to experience its peak in 2007, with the incredible buzz of packed auction rooms and record-breaking results.

 Name one of your triumphs.

In 2010, I became Bonhams' first specialist of Aboriginal art and was closely involved in setting up the new department. One of my first sales was the first single-artist auction ever held in Australia, the Selected Works from the Estate of Paddy Bedford. The record-breaking sale toured London and New York prior to its auction in Australia. It was an incredibly rewarding experience to work so closely with the artist's estate and to assist buyers from all over the world.

What has changed in your area of the business since you first started?

The ebb and flow of international buyers has probably been the most noteworthy phenomenon during my time in the industry. When I first started in 2005, more than 50% of Aboriginal art sales (by value) would often go to overseas buyers. The financial crisis largely put an end to that, but in recent years, international buyers have returned. This is partly thanks to a number of important international exhibitions promoting Aboriginal art and the opening of new public collections and institutions dedicated to Indigenous art, such as the Fondation Opale in Switzerland. Local buyers have also engaged at a deeper level, so we are seeing a more even spread of local and international collectors.

What is your strength as a specialist?

I am passionate about educating collectors on the ethical buying and selling of Aboriginal art and the importance of provenance. This enables clients to make more informed decisions when adding to their collections. My knowledge and experience in this area means that I have been able to give confidence to many new collectors in this field who have previously been wary.  

What's exciting about your next sale?

Our next sale of Important Australian Art is on 24 August. We will be offering a selection of sculpture and bark paintings from Arnhem Land, consigned from the collection of Bill and Anne Gregory, directors of the much-respected Annandale Galleries. These works highlight their particular passion for the work of internationally-acclaimed artist, John Mawurndjul, featuring a remarkable bark painting, Milmilngkan, and several Mimih sculptures.

Also consigned is a very special Wanjina painting by Charlie Numbulmoore (circa 1907-1971). The artist’s work is relatively rare, and this painting is unique as it was painted on a millstone found by grazier and collector Tom Mccourt, on a neighbouring property in 1971. It features Numbulmoore’s distinctive deep black eyes fringed delicately with eyelashes and an ochre ‘halo’ terminating in black points. It reminds me of the powerful paintings found in rock shelters around the Kimberley.    

Do you have a hidden talent?

Being an Aboriginal art specialist, many people are surprised to hear that my first area of research was actually Baroque and Renaissance art. In fact, I completed an Honours thesis on Caravaggio at the University of Sydney and have an ongoing passion and an in-depth knowledge of his work.

Which work of art has changed your life?

The first time I saw a Wanjina painting by Kimberley artist, Alec Mingelmanganu, I was overwhelmed in the same way I had been when standing before my first Caravaggio painting. I was simultaneously awestruck by the power of the figure, the scale of the work, and the talent of the artist. The imposing and other-worldly Wanjina filled the entire canvas and was imbued with an ancestral power that took my breath away.

Francesca Cavazzini is Bonhams' Specialist of Aboriginal Art based in Sydney. She can be reached at Francesca.Cavazzini@bonhams.com