An early masterpiece by late Australian painter Brett Whiteley has been auctioned off in the United States after sitting in the archives of a Texas art museum for 55 years.
After efforts to find who anonymously loaned the painting to a prominent museum in 1968, the painting was listed with a laughable estimate of $US10,000 to $15,000.
The year-end sales have delivered new highs for Del Kathryn Barton and Albert Namatjira, among others, with rare works from Brett Whiteley and Howard Arkley up next.
30 years ago, Australian artist, Brett Whiteley died aged 53. His death brought to an abrupt end one of the most colourful and lucrative careers in Australian art history.