Ethel Spowers Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Ethel Spowers Art Value Price Guide

May. 07, 2025
ETHEL SPOWERS, THE RAIN CLOUD, 1931
Est: $25,000 - $35,000
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890 - 1947) THE RAIN CLOUD, 1931 colour linocut on paper 20.5 x 26.0 cm (image) 23.0 x 30.0 cm (sheet) edition: 5/30 signed, dated, inscribed with title and numbered below image: The Rain Cloud 5/30 E. L. Spowers – 1931 PROVENANCE Private collection Deutscher Fine Art, Melbourne Private collection, Melbourne, acquired from the above in November 1984 EXHIBITED Exhibition of ... Progressive Art, Modern Art Centre, Sydney, 1 March – 1 April 1932, cat. 40 (another example) Exhibition of Linocuts, Everyman's Lending Library, Melbourne, 5 – 16 April 1932, cat. 18 (another example) Gladys Owen and Ethel Spowers, Grosvenor Galleries, Sydney, 6 – 31 December 1932, cat. 9 (another example) Exhibition of Colour Prints and Water Colours by Ethel Spowers, Grosvenor Galleries, Sydney, 10 – 25 July 1936, cat. 4 (another example) Australian Paintings, Colonial/Impressions/Early Modern, Deutscher Fine Art, Melbourne, 30 October – 16 November 1984, cat. 75 (illus. in exhibition catalogue) LITERATURE 'Gladys Owen and Ethel Spowers. Lino–cuts, Wood–cuts, and Water Colours', Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, 6 December 1932, p. 4 (another example) Coppel, S., Lino Cuts of the Machine Age: Claude Flight and the Grosvenor School, Scholar Press, Leicester, United Kingdom, in association with National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 1995, cat. ES16, p. 171 (illus., another example) Noordhuis–Fairfax, S. (ed.), Spowers & Syme, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 2021, p. 78 (another example) RELATED WORK Another example of this print is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Deutscher and Hackett
May. 07, 2025
ETHEL SPOWERS, TUG OF WAR, 1933
Est: $30,000 - $40,000
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890 - 1947) TUG OF WAR, 1933 colour linocut on paper 21.0 x 29.0 cm (image) 24.0 x 33.0 cm (sheet) edition: 2/50 inscribed with title and numbered lower left: Tug of War 2/50 signed and dated lower right: E. L. Spowers 1933 PROVENANCE Private collection Deutscher Fine Art, Melbourne Private collection, Melbourne EXHIBITED Colour Prints and Contemporary Oils, Redfern Gallery, London, 1 June – 29 July 1933, cat. 34 (another example) Contemporary Group Exhibition, Farmer's Blaxland Galleries, Sydney, 24 October – 4 November 1933, cat. 84 (another example) Exhibition of Pictures by Ethel Spowers, Everyman's Library, Melbourne, 28 November – 9 December 1933, cat. 20 (another example) Lino–Cuts 1936, Ward Gallery, London, 10 June – 8 July 1936, cat. 48 (another example) Exhibition of Colour Prints and Water Colours by Ethel Spowers, Grosvenor Galleries, Sydney, 10 – 25 July 1936, cat. 11 (another example) Exhibition of Modern Lino–Cuts, City of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham, 30 March – 19 April 1939, cat. 127 (another example) French and English Colour Prints, Redfern Gallery, London, 29 November – 30 December 1939, cat. 141 (another example) A Survey of Australian Relief Prints 1900/1950, Deutscher Galleries, Melbourne, 13 April – 5 May 1978, cat. 167 (illus. in exhibition catalogue, p. 86) Melbourne Woodcuts and Linocuts of the 1920's and 1930's, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Victoria, then touring to: University Art Museum, Queensland; Newcastle Regional Gallery, New South Wales; McClelland Gallery, Victoria; and Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, 1981 (illus. in exhibition catalogue, n.p., another example) Claude Flight and his Followers: The Colour Linocut Movement between the Wars, Australian National Gallery, Canberra, 18 April – 12 July 1992; Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 14 October – 29 November 1992; National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 16 December 1992 – 1 March 1993; National Art Gallery, Wellington, 19 March – 16 May 1993 and Auckland City Art Gallery, Auckland, 3 June – 18 July 1993, cat. 86 (another example) Spowers & Syme, Canberra Museum and Art Gallery in association with the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 13 August 2021 – 12 February 2022, then touring to: Western Plains Cultural Centre, New South Wales, 26 February – 29 May 2022; Geelong Gallery, Victoria, 16 July – 16 October 2022; S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney, 3 December 2022 – 12 February 2023; and QUT Art Museum, Brisbane, 11 March – 4 June 2023 (another example) LITERATURE 'Colour Prints and Paintings. Measure of a Medium', The Morning Post, London, 3 June 1933, p. 6 (another example) Streeton, A., 'Prints and Paintings. Three New Shows. Miss Spowers's Art', The Argus, Melbourne, 28 November 1933, p. 9 (another example) Coppel, S., Claude Flight and His Followers: The Colour Linocut Movement between the Wars, Australian National Gallery, Canberra, 1992, p. 21 (another example) Coppel, S., Lino Cuts of the Machine Age: Claude Flight and the Grosvenor School, Scholar Press, Leicester, United Kingdom, in association with National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 1995, cat. ES25, pp. 174, 175 (illus., another example) Noordhuis–Fairfax, S. (ed.), Spowers & Syme, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 2021, pp. 81, 92 (another example) RELATED WORK Another example of this print is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Deutscher and Hackett
Feb. 19, 2025
ETHEL SPOWERS, (1890 - 1947), Wet Afternoon, decorative print after original, 23 x 19 cm. (9.0 x 7.4 in.), frame: 45 x 33 x 2 cm. (17.7 x 12.9 x 0.7 in.)
Est: $200 - $300
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890 - 1947) Wet Afternoon decorative print after original gallery frame
Lawsons
Nov. 20, 2024
ETHEL SPOWERS, (1890 - 1947), Wet Afternoon, decorative print after original, 23 x 19 cm. (9.0 x 7.4 in.), frame: 45 x 33 x 2 cm. (17.7 x 12.9 x 0.7 in.)
Est: $200 - $300
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890 - 1947) Wet Afternoon decorative print after original gallery frame
Lawsons
Nov. 20, 2024
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890-1947), The Battle 1933
Est: $80,000 - $120,000
PROPERTY FORMERLY FROM THE COLLECTION OF MRS CELIA PARBURY, MELBOURNE ETHEL SPOWERS (1890-1947) The Battle 1933 oil on canvas 41.5 x 41.5 cm; 49.0 x 49.0 cm (framed) signed and dated lower right: E. L. SPOWERS. 1933 bears inscription on frame verso: 17/ The Battle/ E.L. Spowers/ Return to Mrs H.W. Parbury/ 10 guineas frame: original, Thomas Whitelaw & Co., Melbourne (label attached verso)
Menzies
Nov. 20, 2024
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890-1947), Illustration to the Frog Prince 1925
Est: $7,000 - $9,000
PROPERTY FORMERLY FROM THE COLLECTION OF MRS BERYL RUSSELL, VICTORIA ETHEL SPOWERS (1890-1947) Illustration to the Frog Prince 1925 watercolour, pen and ink on paper 20.0 x 22.0 cm; 39.0 x 36.0 cm (framed) signed and dated lower right: EL Spowers. 1925.
Menzies
Sep. 08, 2024
ETHEL SPOWERS
Est: $500 - $600
Cuthbert and the dogs by Ethel Spowers. Published by Digest Juvenile Productions, circa 1948. Muir 7032. Ethel Spowers(1890-1947) Melbourne Modernist, Artists and Printmaker. Previous owners name inside cover. Likely Spine strengthen. Australian Juvenile.
Sydney Rare Book Auctions
Aug. 27, 2024
Ethel Spowers (1890-1947) Resting Models, 1934
Est: $10,000 - $15,000
Ethel Spowers (1890-1947) Resting Models, 1934 signed and dated lower right: 'E L Spowers 1934' titled and numbered lower left: 'Resting Models 7/50' colour linocut on buff oriental tissue, printed from four blocks in greyish beige, viridian, reddish brown and black 19.5 x 26.5cm (7 11/16 x 10 7/16in).
Bonhams
Aug. 21, 2024
ETHEL SPOWERS 1890-1947 Tug of War 1933 colour linocut on paper, edition 6 of 50 20.5 x 28.8 cm (image); 22.6 x 31.6 cm (sheet)
Est: $25,000 - $35,000
ETHEL SPOWERS 1890-1947 Tug of War 1933 colour linocut on paper, edition 6 of 50 inscribed 'Tug of War. 6/50.' lower left; signed and dated 'E. L. Spowers. 1933.' lower right 20.5 x 28.8 cm (image); 22.6 x 31.6 cm (sheet) PROVENANCE Ethel Spowers, Melbourne Private Collection Chesser Prints, Adelaide (label verso) Private Collection, Adelaide, acquired from the above EXHIBITED Colour Prints and Contemporary Oils, The Redfern Gallery, London, 1 June – 29 July 1933, no. 34, 2 gns (another example) Contemporary Group Exhibition, Farmer's Blaxland Galleries, Sydney, 24 October – 4 November 1933, no. 84, 2 gns (another example) Exhibition of Pictures by Ethel Spowers, Everyman's Library, Melbourne, 28 November – 9 December 1933, no. 20, 2 gns (another example) Lino-Cuts 1936, Ward Gallery, London, 10 June – 8 July 1936, no. 48, ?2.2.0. (another example) Exhibition of Colour Prints and Water Colours by Ethel Spowers, Grosvenor Galleries, Sydney, 10-25 July 1936, no. 11, 2 gns (another example) Exhibition of Modern Lino-Cuts, City of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham, 30 March – 19 April 1939, no. 127 (another example) French and English Colour Prints, The Redfern Gallery, London, 29 November – 30 December 1939, no. 141, 2 gns (another example) A Survey of Australian Relief Prints 1900/1950, Deutscher Galleries, Melbourne, 13 April – 5 May 1978, no. 17 (illustrated, another example) Claude Flight and His Followers: The Colour Linocut Movement Between the Wars, Australian National Gallery, Canberra, 18 April – 12 July 1992; Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 14 October – 29 November 1992; National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 16 December 1992 – 1 March 1993; National Art Gallery, Wellington, 19 March – 16 May 1993; Auckland City Art Gallery, Auckland, 3 June – 18 July 1993, no. 86 (another example) LITERATURE 'Colour Prints and Paintings. Measure of a Medium', The Morning Post, London, 3 June 1933, p. 6 Arthur Streeton, 'Prints and Paintings. Three New Shows. Miss Spowers's Art', The Argus, Melbourne, 28 November 1933, p. 9 Roger Butler and Chris Deutscher, A Survey of Australian Relief Prints 1900/1950, Deutscher Galleries, Melbourne, 1978, p. 86 (illustrated, another example) Stephen Coppel, Claude Flight and His Followers: The Colour Linocut Movement between the Wars, Australian National Gallery, Canberra, 1992, p. 21 (another example) Stephen Coppel, Linocuts of the Machine Age: Claude Flight and the Grosvenor School, Scolar Press, Aldershot, England, in association with the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 1995, cat. no. ES25, pp. 174, 175 (illustrated, another example), 202 OTHER NOTES PUBLIC COLLECTIONS An impression of this linocut is held in the following collection: National Gallery of Australia, Canberra (25/50)
Smith & Singer
Jul. 17, 2024
ETHEL SPOWERS, (1890 - 1947), Swings, 1932, decorative print after original, 19 x 20.5 cm. (7.4 x 8.0 in.), frame: 33 x 45 x 2 cm. (12.9 x 17.7 x 0.7 in.)
Est: $250 - $350
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890 - 1947) Swings, 1932 decorative print after original gallery frame
Lawsons
Jul. 03, 2024
ETHEL SPOWERS, (1890 - 1947), Swings, 1932, decorative print after original, 19 x 20.5 cm. (7.4 x 8.0 in.), frame: 33 x 45 x 2 cm. (12.9 x 17.7 x 0.7 in.)
Est: $250 - $350
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890 - 1947) Swings, 1932 decorative print after original gallery frame
Lawsons
Jun. 07, 2024
The Timber Crane
Est: £8,000 - £12,000
Ethel Spowers 1890 - 1947 The Timber Crane signed in pencil, titled, dated and numbered 3 linoleum cut printed in colours on oriental paper image: 190 by 236 mm. 7½ by 9⅜ in. sheet (visible): 214 by 250 mm. 8 by 9¾ in. Executed in 1926; this impression is number 3 from the edition of approximately 30.
Sotheby's
Jun. 07, 2024
Merchants, Port Said
Est: £15,000 - £25,000
Ethel Spowers 1890 - 1947 Merchants, Port Said signed in pencil, titled, dated and inscribed Edition of 50 linoleum cut printed in colours on tissue-thin oriental laid paper image: 250 by 305 mm. 9⅞ by 12 in. sheet: 328 by 353 mm. 12⅞ by 13⅞ in. Executed in 1932; this impression is from the edition of 50.
Sotheby's
Jun. 05, 2024
ETHEL SPOWERS, (1890 - 1947), Wet Afternoon, decorative print after original, 23 x 19 cm. (9.0 x 7.4 in.), frame: 45 x 33 x 2 cm. (17.7 x 12.9 x 0.7 in.)
Est: $200 - $300
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890 - 1947) Wet Afternoon decorative print after original gallery frame
Lawsons
May. 29, 2024
ETHEL SPOWERS, (1890 - 1947), School is Out, 1936, decorative print after original, 59.5 x 54.5 cm. (23.4 x 21.4 in.), frame: 77 x 72 x 2 cm. (30.3 x 28.3 x 0.7 in.)
Est: $300 - $500
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890 - 1947) School is Out, 1936 decorative print after original gallery frame
Lawsons
May. 05, 2024
Ethel L. Spowers Landscape Watercolor on Paper
Est: $2,000 - $4,000
Ethel Louise Spowers (Australian/British, 1890-1947), Mountainous Landscape Scene, Watercolor on Paper, 1937, signed and dated in pencil lower left, black painted wood frame. Image: 7.5" H x 12" W; frame: 19" H x 22.5" W. Provenance: From a Chelsea Estate. Keywords: Paintings, Works on Paper, Mountains, Hills, Farm view, Grosnevor School of Modern Art, Australian Art, Woman artist
Auctions at Showplace
Apr. 28, 2024
Ethel Spowers - School Is Out. Print of the Original. Image Size 58cm x 54cm With Frame 79cm x 72cm
Est: -
Ethel Spowers - School Is Out. Print of the Original. Image Size 58cm x 54cm With Frame 79cm x 72cm
Pottle Auctions
Apr. 28, 2024
Ethel Spowers - Wet Afternoon. Print Of The Original. 82/500. Signed In The Plate Lower Right. Image Size 37cm x 31cm With Frame 98.5cm x 80.5cm.
Est: -
Ethel Spowers - Wet Afternoon. Print Of The Original. 82/500. Signed In The Plate Lower Right. Image Size 37cm x 31cm With Frame 98.5cm x 80.5cm.
Pottle Auctions
Apr. 10, 2024
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890-1947) Afraid of the Dark 1927 woodcut, ed. 6 16 x 15cm
Est: $2,200 - $3,000
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890-1947) Afraid of the Dark 1927 woodcut, ed. 6 signed and dated lower right: E Spowers 1927 titled and numbered lower left inscribed: "MODEL -/ CORA SPOWERS" "THE STUDIO/ TOORAK HOUSE/ ON/ WEDNESDAY/ JULY 27TH/ AT/ 2.30PM-" 16 x 15cm PROVENANCE: Bridget McDonnell Gallery, Carlton Private collection, Melbourne EXHIBITIONS: Early Australian Watercolours and Drawings, Bridget McDonnell Gallery, Carlton, April 17 2021 (label verso) OTHER NOTES: Other examples of this print are held in the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; and National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Leonard Joel
Apr. 10, 2024
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890-1947) Bank Holiday 1935 linocut, printed from six blocks: yellow ochre, cobalt blue, reddish brown, green, grey...
Est: $25,000 - $35,000
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890-1947) Bank Holiday 1935 linocut, printed from six blocks: yellow ochre, cobalt blue, reddish brown, green, grey and black, edition of 50 24.5 x 24.5cm (image); 30.5 x 29.5cm (sheet) PROVENANCE: Jim Alexander Gallery, Melbourne Private collection, Melbourne EXHIBITIONS: Colour Prints, Redfern Gallery, London, 25 June - 18 July 1936, cat. no. 13 (another example) Exhibition of colour prints and watercolours by Ethel Spowers, Grosvenor Galleries, Sydney, 10 - 25 July 1936 (another example) Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings by Members of the Contemporary Art Group, Athenaeum Gallery, Melbourne, 11 - 22 August 1936, cat. no. 57 as 'E.M. Spowers' (another example) Exhibition of Lino Cuts from the Redfern Gallery, London, Baillieu Allard's Gallery, Melbourne, 7 - 18 September 1937, cat. no. 65 (another example) Summer Salon, Redfern Gallery, London, until 1 October 1938, cat. no. 149, as 'The Picnic' (another example) A Survey of Australian Relief Prints 1900-1950, Deutsher Galleries, Melbourne, 13 April - 5 May 1978, cat. no. 17 (illus., exhibition catalogue, another example) Claude Flight and His Followers: The Colour Linocut Movement between the Wars, Australian National Gallery, Canberra, 18 April - 12 July 1992, then touring; Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 14 October - 29 November 1992; National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 16 December 1992 - 1 March 1993; National Art Gallery, Wellington, 19 March - 16 May 1993; Auckland City Art Gallery, Auckland, 3 June - 18 July 1993, cat. no. 89 (another example) In Relief: Australian Wood Engravings, Woodcuts and Linocuts, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, August 1997 (another example) Spowers & Syme, Canberra Museum & Gallery, Canberra, 13 August 2021 - 12 February 2022, then touring: Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo, 26 February - 29 May, 2022, Geelong Gallery, Geelong, 16 July - 16 October 2022, S.H. Evrin Gallery, Sydney, 3 December 2022 - 12 February 2023, QUT Art Museum, Brisbane, 11 March - 4 June 2023 (another example) LITERATURE: Burdett, B., 'Pictures 'Alarming' and Otherwise', The Herald, Melbourne, 10 August 1936, p. 8 (another example) R, Butler., and Deutsher, C., A Survey of Australian Relief Prints 1900/1950, Deutsher Galleries, Melbourne, 1978, cat. no. 171, p. 88 (illus., another example) Burke, J., Australian Women Artists 1840-1940, Greenhouse Publications, Melbourne, 1980, pp. 151, 181, pl. 78 (illus., another example) Coppel, S., Claude Flight and His Followers: The Colour Linocut Movement between the Wars, Australian National Gallery, Canberra, 1992, cat. no. 89, p. 22 (another example) Coppel, S., Linocuts of the Machine Age: Claude Flight and the Grosvenor School, Scolar Press in association with the National Gallery of Australia, Aldershot, 1995, cat. no. ES 30, p.176-77, pl. 40 (illus., another example) Grant, K., and Smith, J., In Relief: Australian Wood Engravings, Woodcuts and Linocuts, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, 1997, pp. 38-39 (illus., another example) OTHER NOTES: Other examples of this print are held in the collections of the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne; and National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.
Leonard Joel
Mar. 19, 2024
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890-1947), The Green Bridge 1926
Est: $3,000 - $5,000
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890-1947) The Green Bridge 1926 linocut signed, dated, titled and editioned on margin: E. L. Spowers 1926 / The Green Bridge / .4. 19 x 25.5cm
Gibson's
Feb. 25, 2024
Ethol Spowers Swings Print of the Original Signed in the Plate Right Titled Lower Left Image, 19cm x 21cm Frame 33cm x 45cm
Est: -
Ethol Spowers Swings Print of the Original Signed in the Plate Right Titled Lower Left Image 19cm x 21cm Frame 33cm x 45cm
Pottle Auctions
Feb. 25, 2024
Ethel Spowers School Is Out Print of the Original Image 58cm x 54cm Frame 80cm x 72cm
Est: -
Ethel Spowers School Is Out Print of the Original Image 58cm x 54cm Frame 80cm x 72cm
Pottle Auctions
Feb. 25, 2024
Ethel Spowers Wet Afternoon Print of the Original Signed in the Plate Right Titled Lower Left Image, 23cm x 19cm Frame 45cm x 33cm
Est: -
Ethel Spowers Wet Afternoon Print of the Original Signed in the Plate Right Titled Lower Left Image 23cm x 19cm Frame 45cm x 33cm
Pottle Auctions
Dec. 12, 2023
Ethel Spowers (Australian, 1890-1947) Wet Afternoon Linocut printed in grey, reddish brown, emerald green and cobalt blue, 1929-30, on tissue thin oriental laid paper, signed, titled, dated '1930' and numbered 38/50 in pencil, framedBlock 243 x 20...
Est: £20,000 - £30,000
Ethel Spowers (Australian, 1890-1947) Wet Afternoon (Coppel ES 14) Linocut printed in grey, reddish brown, emerald green and cobalt blue, 1929-30, on tissue thin oriental laid paper, signed, titled, dated '1930' and numbered 38/50 in pencil, framed Block 243 x 204mm (9 5/8 x 8in) Sheet 302 x 232mm (11 7/8 x 9 1/8in)
Bonhams
Dec. 10, 2023
Ethel Spowers Swingers Print of Original Signed in the Plate Lower Right. Image 33cm x 36cm Frame 55cm x 55cm
Est: -
Ethel Spowers Swingers Print of Original Signed in the Plate Lower Right. Image 33cm x 36cm Frame 55cm x 55cm
Pottle Auctions
Nov. 28, 2023
Ethel Spowers (1890-1947) Timber Crane, 1926
Est: $14,000 - $18,000
Ethel Spowers (1890-1947) Timber Crane, 1926 titled, numbered, signed and dated below image: 'The Timber Crane. 1., E.L. Spowers 1926.' monogramed in plate: 'ELS' colour linocut on cream oriental laid paper printed from five blocks in grey, slate blue, black, red-brown and green; from an edition of approximately 30 19.0 x 23.5cm (7 1/2 x 9 1/4in).
Bonhams
Oct. 18, 2023
Tug of War (C. ES 25)
Est: $20,000 - $30,000
Ethel Spowers 1890 - 1947 Tug of War (C. ES 25) Linoleum cut printed in colors, 1925, signed in pencil, dated and numbered 23/50, on tissue thin Japan paper, framed image: 202 by 282 mm 8 by 11⅛ in sheet: 226 by 355 mm 8⅞ by 14 in
Sotheby's
Aug. 06, 2023
Ethel Spowers - Swings. Print of the Original. Signed in the Plate Lower Right. Image Size H 33cm x W 36cm. With Frame H 55cm x W 55cm.
Est: -
Ethel Spowers - Swings. Print of the Original. Signed in the Plate Lower Right. Image Size H 33cm x W 36cm. With Frame H 55cm x W 55cm.
Pottle Auctions
Jun. 15, 2023
ETHEL LOUISE SPOWERS (AUSTRALIAN, 1890-1947) Fairy Story watercolor, gouach
Est: $7,000 - $10,000
ETHEL LOUISE SPOWERS (AUSTRALIAN, 1890-1947) Fairy Story watercolor, gouache, and ink on paper 7 3/4 x 11 1/2 in. (19.7 x 29.2 cm.)
Christie's
Jun. 15, 2023
ETHEL LOUISE SPOWERS (AUSTRALIA, 1890-1947) The Pigeon Loft watercolor, gou
Est: $5,000 - $7,000
ETHEL LOUISE SPOWERS (AUSTRALIA, 1890-1947) The Pigeon Loft watercolor, gouache, and ink on paper 9 1/2 x 8 in. (24.2 x 20.3 cm.)
Christie's
May. 28, 2023
Ethel Spowers Print of the Original Swingers Image 33cm x 36cm Frame 50cm x 49cm
Est: -
Ethel Spowers Print of the Original Swingers Image 33cm x 36cm Frame 50cm x 49cm
Pottle Auctions
Apr. 04, 2023
Ethel Spowers (1890-1947) The Green Bridge, 1926
Est: $4,000 - $6,000
Ethel Spowers (1890-1947) The Green Bridge, 1926 titled, numbered, signed and dated below image: 'The Green Bridge. 4. E.L. Spowers 1926' linocut printed in green, black, light blue and beige ochre 19.0 x 26.5cm (7 1/2 x 10 7/16in).
Bonhams
Mar. 21, 2023
ETHEL LOUISE SPOWERS (1890-1947) Still Life 1932 linocut, printed in colour inks, from five blocks, ed. 21/30
Est: $12,000 - $18,000
ETHEL LOUISE SPOWERS (1890-1947) Still Life 1932 linocut, printed in colour inks, from five blocks, ed. 21/30 signed and dated in pencil lower right: E. L. Spowers 1932 titled and editioned lower left 22.5 x 28.5cm PROVENANCE: Private collection, Melbourne Thence by descent EXHIBITIONS: Gladys Owen and Ethel Spowers: Exhibition of Colour Lino-cuts, Wood Engravings and Watercolours, Grosvenor Galleries, Sydney, 6-31 December 1932 (another impression) Exhibition of pictures by Ethel Spowers, Everyman's Lending Library, Melbourne, 28 November - 9 December 1933 (another impression) Exhibition of Colour Prints and Watercolours by Ethel Spowers, 10-25 July 1936, Grosvenor Galleries, Sydney, 1936 (another impression) Spowers and Syme, Canberra Museum and Art Gallery in association with the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 13 August 2021 – 12 February 2022 (another impression) LITERATURE: Young, B., ‘Water Colors and Prints: Talent of Miss Ethel Spowers: New Formalism', The Herald, Melbourne, 27 November 1933 ‘Art Exhibitions: Pictures by Ethel Spowers: A varied collection', The Age, Melbourne, 28 November 1933 Streeton, A., ‘Prints and Paintings: Three New Shows: Miss Spowers' Art', The Argus, Melbourne, 28 November 1933 Bell, G., 'Miss Ethel Spowers Shows Work of Rare Distinction', The Sun News Pictorial, Melbourne, 28 November 1933 Coppel, S., Linocuts of the Machine Age: Claude Flight and the Grosvenor School, Scolar Press in association with the National Gallery of Australia, Aldershot, 1995, (illus. another impression) Noordhuis-Fairfax, S., Spowers and Syme, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 2021, p. 42 (illus. another impression) Grishin, S. ‘Review: Spowers and Syme prints celebrate a joyful innocence,' The Canberra Times, Australian Community Media, Canberra, 11 September 2021, [online] accessed 12 September 2021 Another impression of this print is in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. We appreciate the assistance of the Ethel Spowers Archive www.ethelspowers.com in cataloguing this work. OTHER NOTES: Ethel Spowers was born into a family of comfortable wealth, residing at Toorak House. Her parents were both instrumental in her pursuit of art. Her mother, Annie Christina Spowers, had a great interest in the arts and was a talented artist herself, while Ethel's father, William Spowers, owned two Melbourne newspapers - The Argus and The Australasian. The family's interest in art and travel abroad allowed Ethel to attend art school in Paris for a brief period. Upon returning home, Ethel enrolled in the National Gallery of Victoria School in 1911 where she would study for the next 6 years. Ethel Spowers first developed a reputation as an illustrator, but it was after fellow artist and dear friend, Eveline Syme, introduced her to the teachings of Claude Flight that she delved deeply into the medium of linocut. Together, the pair travelled to London in 1929 to undertake training from Claude Flight and Ian Macnaib at the Grosvenor School of Modern Art. These teachings would come to form the remainder of Ethel's artistic practice. Whilst she was praised by the Grosvenor School, the local Australian response to her new work was not so favourable. In fact, Ethel produced an article in her father's paper, The Australasian, calling for the public's appreciation of this new modern art, actively promoting the teachings of Claude Flight in Australia. Soon after, she became a founding member of the Contemporary Art Group of Melbourne, whose purpose it was to promote modernism and encourage its appreciation from the more conservative art establishment. Ethel established her own studio above the stables at her family home in Toorak, with its high ceilings and abundant natural light proving ideal. Whilst it served as a private meeting place for various women's circles, including the Lyceum Club's Sketching Circle, it also contained a platform for a model to pose, chairs for guests, and sideboards displaying examples of Spowers' works as well as ornaments and objects she'd collected. One was a Lenci porcelain object of a squirrel gathering acorns. This item went on to inspire at least two works by Spowers - a monochromatic woodcut titled The Squirrel 1932, and the colour linocut Still Life 1932. A near inverse of each other, these two prints display the porcelain object next to a candlestick atop a studio surface, with dramatic lighting from the side exaggerating and enlarging the forms in shadow. The woodcut, however, limits Spowers' ability to detail the delicacies of the porcelain design. Through the colour linocut, she is able to use gradation of colour to highlight the roundness of form, as well as shorten the depth between the object and shadow to create a patterning effect. She took this one step further in Reflections of a China Fawn 1932 where the object is repeated through reflection as opposed to shadow, and the grid form from a window's reflected light adds to the inherent drama of the composition. Still Life 1932 is a particularly rare linocut of Ethel's - rarely seen by the public and highly uncommon in the marketplace. Ethel Spowers was diagnosed with breast cancer in the 1930s and sadly passed away in 1947. It is understood that many of her works were destroyed towards the later part of her life, both by her and her family (perhaps an indication of how her work was underappreciated and undervalued during her lifetime). While she was recognised and exhibited in the following decades, it was not until the later 20th Century that she was truly celebrated for her contributions to Modernism in Australian painting and printmaking. With so many of her prints now perished, destroyed or missing it is even more extraordinary when her works come to light and unsurprisingly contributes to the current market's eagerness to acquire them. Olivia Fuller Head of Art
Leonard Joel
Mar. 05, 2023
Ethol Spowers - Swings. Print Of The Original. Signed In The Plate - Lower Corner. Image Size 33cm H x 36.5cm W. Frame Size 49cm H x 49cm W.
Est: -
Ethol Spowers - Swings. Print Of The Original. Signed In The Plate - Lower Corner. Image Size 33cm H x 36.5cm W. Frame Size 49cm H x 49cm W.
Pottle Auctions
Sep. 11, 2022
Ethel Spowers
Est: $200 - $400
Ethel Spowers decorative print of original, Swings. Image: 34 x 36cm (frame 55 x 65cm)
Charleston's Fine Art Auctions
Aug. 21, 2022
Ethel Spowers - Wet Afternoon. Print Of The Original 32/50. Signed In The Lower Right Plate. Image Measures 37cm x 31cm. Frame Measures 98.5cm x 80.5cm.
Est: -
Ethel Spowers - Wet Afternoon. Print Of The Original 32/50. Signed In The Lower Right Plate. Image Measures 37cm x 31cm. Frame Measures 98.5cm x 80.5cm.
Pottle Auctions
Aug. 21, 2022
Ethel Spowers - Swings. Print Of The Original 42/50. Signed In The Lower Right Plate. Image Measures 33.5cm x 36.5cm. Frame Measures 98.5cm x 80.5cm.
Est: -
Ethel Spowers - Swings. Print Of The Original 42/50. Signed In The Lower Right Plate. Image Measures 33.5cm x 36.5cm. Frame Measures 98.5cm x 80.5cm.
Pottle Auctions
Jun. 13, 2022
Ethel Spowers - Skating. Print of the Original 10/50. Signed in the Lower Right Plate. Image Size 21.5 x 26.5 cm. Frame Size 45 x 48.5 cm.
Est: -
Ethel Spowers - Skating. Print of the Original 10/50. Signed in the Lower Right Plate. Image Size 21.5 x 26.5 cm. Frame Size 45 x 48.5 cm.
Pottle Auctions
Dec. 05, 2021
Ethel Spowers Wet Afternoon Print of the Original. Signed in the Lower Right Plate. 37cm x 35cm Frame. 26cm x 22cm Image.
Est: -
Ethel Spowers Wet Afternoon Print of the Original. Signed in the Lower Right Plate. 37cm x 35cm Frame. 26cm x 22cm Image.
Pottle Auctions
Dec. 05, 2021
Ethel Spowers Swings Print of the Original. Signed in the Plate Lower Right Plate. 35cm x 37cm Frame. 24cm x 36cm Image.
Est: -
Ethel Spowers Swings Print of the Original. Signed in the Plate Lower Right Plate. 35cm x 37cm Frame. 24cm x 36cm Image.
Pottle Auctions
Nov. 14, 2021
Ethel Spowers- Children Playing, watercolour, 22x3…
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
Ethel Spowers- Children Playing, watercolour, 22x31cm
Christian McCann Auctions
Nov. 14, 2021
Ethel Spowers- Children Walking, watercolour, 22x3…
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
Ethel Spowers- Children Walking, watercolour, 22x31cm
Christian McCann Auctions
Nov. 10, 2021
ETHEL SPOWERS, THE RAIN CLOUD, 1931
Est: $25,000 - $35,000
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890 - 1947) THE RAIN CLOUD, 1931 colour linocut 20.5 x 26.0 cm (image) 24.5 x 29.5 cm (sheet) edition: 13/30 signed, dated, titled and numbered below image: The Rain Cloud. 13/30. E. L. Spowers - 1931 - PROVENANCE Josef Lebovic Gallery, Sydney Private collection, Sydney EXHIBITED Exhibition of ... Progressive Art, Modern Art Centre, Sydney, 1 March – 1 April 1932, cat. 40 (another example) Exhibition of Linocuts, Everyman’s Lending Library, Melbourne, 5 – 16 April 1932, cat. 18 (another example) Gladys Owen and Ethel Spowers, Grosvenor Galleries, Sydney, 6 December 1932, cat. 9 (another example) Exhibition of Colour Prints and Water Colours by Ethel Spowers, Grosvenor Galleries, Sydney, 10 –25 July 1936, cat. 4 (another example) LITERATURE ‘Gladys Owen and Ethel Spowers. Lino–cuts, Wood–cuts, and Water Colours’, Sydney Morning Herald, 6 December 1932, p. 4 (as ‘The Raincloud’) Coppel, S., Linocuts of the Machine Age: Claude Flight and the Grosvenor School, Scolar Press, Aldershot, in assoc. National Gallery of Australia, 1995, cat. ES16, p. 171 (illus., another example) RELATED WORK Another example of this print is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Deutscher and Hackett
Oct. 03, 2021
Ethol Spowers Swings. Print Of The Original. Signed In The Plate Lower Right. Image Size 33cm x 36cm With Frame 57cm x 68cm.
Est: -
Ethol Spowers Swings. Print Of The Original. Signed In The Plate Lower Right. Image Size 33cm x 36cm With Frame 57cm x 68cm.
Pottle Auctions
Oct. 03, 2021
Ethol Spowers Wet Afternoon. Print Of The Original. Signed In The Plate Lower Right. Image Size 39cm x 32cm With Frame 68cm x 58cm.
Est: -
Ethol Spowers Wet Afternoon. Print Of The Original. Signed In The Plate Lower Right. Image Size 39cm x 32cm With Frame 68cm x 58cm.
Pottle Auctions
Jun. 13, 2021
Ethel Spowers, pastile of English landscape, signed centre left E Sponers, 37 x 27 cm
Est: $500 - $800
Ethel Spowers, pastile of English landscape, signed centre left E Sponers, 37 x 27 cm
Woodlands Auctions
Apr. 21, 2021
ETHEL SPOWERS, DURHAM CATHEDRAL, c.1924
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
ETHEL SPOWERS (1890 – 1947) DURHAM CATHEDRAL, c.1924 colour woodcut 16.3 x 19.8 cm (image) edition of 20 signed and inscribed with title below image PROVENANCE Private collection, Melbourne EXHIBITED Victorian Artist’s Society: Annual Spring Exhibition, October 1924, The Galleries, Melbourne, cat. 236 (another example) Exhibition of Works by Ethel Spowers, The New Gallery, Melbourne, 4 – 15 August 1925, cat. 33 (another example) LITERATURE Coppel, S., Linocuts of the Machine Age: Claude Flight and the Grosvenor School, Scolar Press, Aldershot, England, in association with the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 1995, cat.ES A/3, p. 118 RELATED WORK Another example of this print is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Deutscher and Hackett