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Lot Essay
'When I think of art I think of beauty. Beauty is the mystery of life. It is not in the eye it is in the mind. In our minds there is an awareness of perfection. All art work is about beauty; all positive work represents it and celebrates it.' AGNES MARTIN
James Oswald Fairfax AC (1933-2017) was a passionate and discerning connoisseur whose interest in the fine and decorative arts spanned eras, cultures and continents. The art he collected over the years reflects both his eye for beauty and also his love of travel, and was acquired to adorn the beautiful homes that he created for himself both in Australia and the United Kingdom. The great-grandson of the founder of the Sydney Morning Herald and Chairman, from 1977 to 1987, of publishers John Fairfax Ltd., James was educated in Sydney, Melbourne and then at Balliol College, Oxford. His kindness and generosity extended to artists, collectors and amateurs, and not least to public institutions: among his many generous bequests to Australian galleries, were important works by Rubens, Ingres, Canaletto and Watteau, given to the Art Gallery of New South Wales; the National Gallery of Australia; the National Gallery of Victoria; Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane and the Art Gallery of South Australia, ensuring that his taste will be shared with a wide public. Christie’s is delighted to be offering works from this fascinating and varied collection in a series of sales in London.
James Oswald Fairfax AC (1933-2017) was a passionate and discerning connoisseur whose interest in the fine and decorative arts spanned eras, cultures and continents. The art he collected over the years reflects both his eye for beauty and also his love of travel, and was acquired to adorn the beautiful homes that he created for himself both in Australia and the United Kingdom. The great-grandson of the founder of the Sydney Morning Herald and Chairman, from 1977 to 1987, of publishers John Fairfax Ltd., James was educated in Sydney, Melbourne and then at Balliol College, Oxford. His kindness and generosity extended to artists, collectors and amateurs, and not least to public institutions: among his many generous bequests to Australian galleries, were important works by Rubens, Ingres, Canaletto and Watteau, given to the Art Gallery of New South Wales; the National Gallery of Australia; the National Gallery of Victoria; Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane and the Art Gallery of South Australia, ensuring that his taste will be shared with a wide public. Christie’s is delighted to be offering works from this fascinating and varied collection in a series of sales in London.