PADDY WILLIAMS

Painted at Warmun (Turkey Creek)
Mark Anderton, South Australia
Private Collection

The painting has been professionally conserved by Art Lab, Adelaide. The painting has been stretched onto a cotton canvas. It appears as though little fixitive was used and much of the white pigments was dissipated. The painting was restored over a number of years in Adelaide and now is mounted and housed behind perspex in a contemporary frame and appears to be in a stable condition
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Cf. For another painting by the artist from 1991 and depicting a similar subject, see Back country near Bow River, 1991, in the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria in Ryan, J. and K. Akerman (eds.), Images of Power: Aboriginal art of the Kimberley, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 1993, p.56; see also Christ and the Battle, n.d., in Crumlin, R. and A. Knight, Aboriginal Art and Spirituality, Dove Publications, Melbourne, 1995, p.41, plate 18, illus.

Paddy Williams belonged to the group of Gija artists at Warmun (Turkey Creek) most of whom had been painting on a regular basis since 1979: this group was led by George Mung Mung and Jack Britten and included Queenie McKenzie, Madigan Thomas, Hector Jandany and Birribi. The group also included Rover Thomas. Many of the artists produced paintings as teaching aids for the school at the Mirrilingki Catholic Mission at Warmun; the subjects of these works ranged from ancestral narratives and views of the Kimberley landscape to Christian themes

This painting was acquired by Mark Anderton during his employment at Warmun between 1989-1993 as the manager of the aged care hostel and is sold with a copy of a letter recalling the period and recounting the circumstances in which this painting was aquired by him