Lot 86
  • 86

Rover Thomas 1926 - 1998 MASSACRE SITE - OLD TEXAS DOWNS

Estimate
180,000 - 250,000 AUD
bidding is closed

Description

  • Rover Thomas
  • MASSACRE SITE - OLD TEXAS DOWNS
  • signed Rover on the reverse

  • natural earth pigments and bush gums on linen

  • 100 BY 168CM

Provenance

Commissioned by Mary Macha, Perth in 1991
Private collection
Sotheby's, Aboriginal Art, 28-29 July 2003, lot 201
Glenn Schaeffer Collection

Condition

The painting is housed in a dark wooden box frame. The yellow and brown pigments appear to be in stable and good condition overall with no repairs or restorations. There is significant pigment loss to the white dots particuarly around the perimtere of the canvas where it has been handled and much of the pigment on select dots is unstabe and or missing. The loss of white pigment is typical in Rover Thomas paintings of this provenance and period.
"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."

Catalogue Note

Sold with the following CD recording, transcribed by Kim Akerman from tapes made by Mary Macha: 'See that bottom part (indicating the picture) - that hill - they call him Kuwalliwalli, black fella (Aboriginal) way, and big range kardiya (Non-Aboriginal) call him big range - (This) hill you know, this bottom part. They call him Kuwalliwalli - (it is) in Texas country.

We call it (indicating on the picture) Dinner Creek - that one - Dinner Creek, going down to Red Butte. Stock yards in river that one (those - indicating on picture). This comes from (the) bush, (that) little creek you know, little river - Dinner Creek.

When we (were) mustering bullocks (we) came down there, (and) have dinner there - see (at) that bit of (a) rockhole there. (We) pull up on top (above the pool), got a (the) bullocks, got the cattle - we go alongside the river all the way you know. (The) yard is up there - long way. See that (manager) came down from Old Texas. (He) track them up - that mob - bullocks you know - cattle tracks. "Ah" he says "who's been chasing this mob of cattle?" He (that manager) been come along from behind (but) they (had) killed already there. They (the cattle killers) been see (that manager) galloping (up to them) from behind - that (he is) the manager for that country (station) now.

They had skinned one bullock (when) "come out" (the manager called). One bloke goes under the bullock hide and hides himself, you know. The others covered him in the bullock hide - underneath (it). They (then) ran away!

Ptew! ptew! ptew! (The manager) shoot(s) him up that other mob. They were busy, that whiteman was busy - ptew ptew - shoot em up that other mob - killed them.

Anyhow stand up away from that mob (off to one side), this one bloke (is) still hidden beneath the bullock hide - they never see him - biggest mob (of whitemen) too they killed (were) killing outside mob people - where (those who were) they running way from that killer place.

One boy (old Aboriginal women) came along "Ah here (is) one bullet" she said and gave it to (that manager). "Ah, you one of them eating my cattle too" (said the manager). Ptew! (he took the bullet, loaded his rifle and shot at her). The woman run away, rolling and rolling - she was shot in the shoulder. They (the whitemen) couldn't find her - she went into the trees. One bloke was still hiding under the bullock hide and they never saw him - good job (too) (he was) - very lucky. One old woman got away with a broken shoulder.

They (the Aboriginal people of the area) know (this story), everybody knows. (Indicating on the picture) see that big hill, they call it Narragrun, Narragrun - this one here. This little creek coming down, that's Horseshoe Creek, Horseshoe Creek - there is the junction there. From Texas it comes down all the way along (and) meets up there. It goes right down to old Texas - that river now - that (is) the rifle road for (that manager) - (indicating on the picture) - that one there. They (the whites) killed them (the Aboriginal cattle killers) right alongside between those two hills now - right there they killed them'.