AcemLer, 1989
~rinity
College Tlewsletter
îZo. 4o
John Brack, Breakfast Table, 1958
BRACK PAINTING SOLD AND ART FUND ESTABLISHED For nearly thrity years a painting "Breakfast Table" hung in the Junior Common Room near the clock. Opinions about its artistic merit varied widely. A few years ago it was replaced with a photographic college—a tribute to Frank Henagan, now the College Porter.
(1) One third should be added to the capital so that its value is increased and not eroded by inflation (2) One third should be used for the renovation, cataloguing, and care of existing works of art owned by the College (3) One third should be used for new acquisitions as recommended by the student committee.
The painting suffered somewhat over the years and badly needed cleaning. It spent a while in the Warden's Lodge and was then borrowed in late 1988 by the National Gallery of Victoria for its exhibition "John Brack—A Retrospective". When it returned to the College, a problem arose as to where to put it. Finally the Art Committee, with the consent of the College Council, decided to put it on sale. Dr Joseph Brown generously had the painting cleaned and placed it on a prominent wall in his gallery. After several months there were no buyers, so he suggested to the Warden that it be sent for auction by Sotheby's.
The success of the Edward Rowden White Art Fund clearly depended on how much money would be raised by the sale of the Brack painting. For several months any buyer could have purchased it from Dr Brown for $100,000. In the event, and with Dr Brown's help, it was sold for $175,000—an unexpectedly magnificent result. Both Sotheby's and Dr Brown have been generous to the College and the net sum after all expenses, commissions, and insurances have been paid is $150,000.
While these arrangements were in progress, our student archivist Nikolaos Sakellaropoulos discovered that the painting had been presented to the College in 1948 by Mr H.A.L. ("Tim") Moran and his wife in memory of Dr Edward Rowden White, Mrs Moran's father. In some embarrasement, the Warden telephoned the Morans to explain what had happened. He offered to withdraw the picture from sale.
Moreover, the College has a full scale reproduction of the original picture which will be displayed together with an account of the genesis of the Edward Rowden White Art Fund.
He also explained what the Art Committee proposed to do with the proceeds if the picture sold for a substantial sum. Mr and Mrs Moran readily and graciously agreed and suggested that their daughter, Mrs Georgina Barraclough, be invited to join the Art Committee. The proceeds of the sale were to provide the capital of the Edward Rowden White Art Fund. The Art Committee has considered it important that the interest of the College students in contemporary Australian Art should be developed by encouraging the students to form the Edward Rowden White Club to decide what works of art should be bought or sold. The College Council has now approved the Arts Committee's recommendation that the money raised by the sale of the Brack painting should be invested and the income used three ways:
The College is deeply grateful to Mr and Mrs Moran for their generosity. It has had a result far beyond anything that could have been imagined in 1948.
The College Art Committee consists of Professor A.G.L. Shaw, (Chairman), Sir Andrew Grimwade, Mr Angus Trumble, Dr Joan Stanley-Baker (Foundation Fellow in Fine Arts), Mr James Ramsden (current student representative), Sir Rupert Clarke, Mrs Georgina Barraclough, and the Warden. The Committee was brought into existence two years ago thanks to the initiative of Sir Andrew Grimwade. The Committee hopes that Mr and Mrs Moran's example will inspire others to offer works of art to the College—not only paintings but also books, statuary, silverware, porcelain and other forms of art. The decision whether or not to accept such gifts must, of course, remain in the hands of the Art Committee. (Dr) Evan L. Burge WARDEN
A PUBLICATION OF TRINITY COLLEGE WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE Registered by Australia Post—Publication No. VBG 4336.