Landmark Purchase

Newcastle Herald

Friday May 9, 2008

By JACQUI JONES

RON Ramsey believes his first acquisition as director for Newcastle Region Art Gallery will become a talking point, although he does not expect the controversy that has come with some previous purchases.

A private art collector who wants to remain anonymous has offered the gallery a Julian Ashton watercolour landscape, painted more than 100 years ago and featuring Nobbys headland.

Mr Ramsey said it was rare for galleries to be offered such historic works of art and the piece would become an important addition to the Newcastle collection.

"Julian Ashton is a very important and established artist in Australia," he said.

"But the great thing is it's of our local location, it's of Nobbys and that's the perfect fit."

He said the painting had been in a private collection for more than 50 years.

Its value is at least $50,000 and the Newcastle Region Art Gallery Foundation is accepting donations towards the cost.

Previous controversial purchases include Patricia Piccinini's $120,000 wombat-inspired sculpture bought in 2006 during Nick Mitzevich's directorship.

Mr Ramsey is aware that the new aquisition says something about his style.

"What I want to do is fill in some of the gaps where we have gaps in the collection," he said.

"We've got good Joseph Lycetts of early 1800s Newcastle. We don't have a lot from this period.

"This shows us what was happening in the city at this time.

"Sometimes we're not just after the works that are going to create a fuss. Sometimes they're just very important, very sound historical works that are offered to us."

The painting could go on display in June.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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