Painting – Old Cook’s River Bridge, William Pidgeon 1950
Oil on board, signed lower right, 52 x 74 cm
This oil painting was entered into the Second Rockdale Annual Art Award held at the Coronation Hall, Barden Street, Arncliffe, from July 21st to August 5th, 1956.
The painting was Highly Commended (Painting in Oils) by adjudicator, Mr. Eric Langker. Other adjudicators were Douglas Dundas and Weaver Hawkins. The certificate is held in the Archives of William Edwin Pidgeon 1909-1981 (Box21 Folder 2) by the National Library of Australia (NLA).
With the expansion of Sydney airport and its runways into Botany Bay, the site of the bridge was totally reclaimed and the water course completely redirected. It now lies somewhere near the middle of the airfield under the east-west runway.
In 1951 Hal Missingham, Director of the National Gallery of New South Wales (now Art Gallery of New South Wales), returned from a six-month European study tour of overseas galleries. Hal was a good friend of Wep and as it happens, Wep’s future wife, Miss Dorothy Lees who worked for Hal at the gallery as Coordinator of Travelling Art Exhibitions. Hal submitted his findings, “Director’s Report on Overseas Galleries: May – November 1951”, a copy of which is held in the Wep archives (NLA Box 36 Folder 1) and began to work on formulating a masterplan for a ‘first-rate gallery on the present site’. which would include flexible gallery spaces, new staff offices, a library, air-conditioned exhibition areas and a restaurant.
As part of the grand plan of redevelopment, a new wing was designed and to be constructed as part of the celebrations for the bicentennial of Captain Cook’s visit of 1770. Delays and finances meant the date was missed but a fundraising lottery was held at the Art Gallery in 1970. Artists were encouraged to donate works for prizes. Wep donated his 1950 painting “Old Cook’s River Bridge” which was won by Sali Herman.
Wep’s wife, Dorothy noted the work was sent to auction at Christies in 1971 but was passed in at around $525-$550. Records indicate it was subsequently sold at auction on two other occasions in 1985 and 1996 and was donated to the Maitland Regional Art Gallery by William Bowmore (AO OBE) in 1999.
Provenance
1956 Exhibited Second Rockdale Annual Art Award, Highly Commended
1970 Donated gift of the artist to AGNSW Captain Cook Wing Lottery; Won by Sali Herman
1971 Christies; Passed in at $525 to $550
1985 Lawsons, Australian & European Paintings, Prints & Drawings, Sydney, 04/06/1985, Lot No. 87; $450
1996 Lawsons, Australian and European Paintings, Sydney, 16/04/1996, Lot No. 103; $1,320
1999 Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Maitland City Council; Gift of William Bowmore (AO OBE)
