Ned Kelly painting sets Australian auction record

[Lazlow]

A painting of the notorious Australian outlaw Ned Kelly has become the country's most expensive work of art ever bought at auction.

The work by Australian artist Sidney Nolan went for $4.8m (A$5.4m; £3.2m), smashing previous records. The buyer has not been named.

First Class Marksman shows the 19th Century bandit walking through the Australian bush with rifle raised.

He is wearing his trademark body armour with iron helmet and narrow eye slit.

In a country that likes to pride itself on its anti-authoritarianism, it is perhaps fitting that its most expensive piece of artwork should feature its most celebrated anti-hero, Ned Kelly - a rogue who regularly defied the colonial authorities.

Sidney Nolan is one of Australia's most celebrated and internationally recognised artists.

It is believed that he completed 27 paintings of Ned Kelly and this is the only one that is not on display at the National Gallery in Canberra.

Suffice to say, the Kelly collection is its most popular Australian attraction.

[AranchineD]

[FX-GTZ]

Where is his arms? Or is it blended into the background?

[Filthy Old Drunk]

It's blended in. Bigger picture shows his arms and weird, ****ed up fingers.

[TAT]

I never have understood art, and I doubt I ever will

[Filthy Old Drunk]

Originally Posted by TAT

I never have understood art, and I doubt I ever will

Same here. But having said that, I've been to a few exhibitions and it's makes more sense when you see paintings, drawings etc. up close. It makes it easier to appreciate the finer details. But stuff like the above...the artistic merit goes right over my head.

[TAT]

I was at the NGV last week having a look around and although I saw some cool stuff I could apply to the classroom as well as quite a few things I could appreciate (Picasso's Weeping Woman), there was nothing that I understood.

[REQUIEM]

Originally Posted by TAT

there was nothing that I understood.

You dont understand art, you just take away with you what you do. It can change your emotions or do absolutely nothing its all internal.

Me personally, that Ned Kelly picture was nothing special but to the person that spent over 4 million it must have.

[[m]averick]

Originally Posted by TAT

I never have understood art, and I doubt I ever will

art lover pays 28 000 dollars for a painting by a two-year-old


I cant for the life of me work that one out. The kid has literally thrown paint at a canvas (prepared by the parents) and then an interpretation has been given to it. To me, drawing an interpretation from those paintings is like looking at the clouds and determining what they resemble. There's no intent.

[Mr Pie]

I love looking at clouds...