Ray Crooke Sold at Auction Prices

Painter, b. 1922 - d. 2015

Artist Ray Crooke exhibited a love for drawing during his childhood years spent in Melbourne, Australia in the early 1920s. He went on to study at the Art School at Swinburne Technical College before joining the army during WWII. Despite his time occupied by the war, painter Ray Crooke continued to study drawing through correspondence, while heavily observing the scenes surrounding him. These initial experiences in tropical settings inspired him, and would end up being the subject of many of artist Ray Crooke's future landscape paintings.

Choosing to work outside of the public eye but still garnering prestigious recognition, Crooke focused on portraying exotic scenes and portraits of the natives on Australia's Thursday Island, the setting of many Ray Crooke African American paintings for sale. Expand your collection with many artists' original African American paintings for sale at auction.

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sold
Sep. 20, 2023
Ray Crooke (1922-2015) The Guitarist
Est: AUD1,200 - AUD1,800
oil on board, signed l.r.c. 'Crooke'
Shapiro Auctioneers
sold
Sep. 20, 2023
Ray Crooke (1922-2015) Waiting for Arrival
Est: AUD7,000 - AUD9,000
oil on canvas, signed l.r.c. 'R Crooke'
Shapiro Auctioneers
sold
Sep. 20, 2023
Ray Crooke (1922-2015) Laura River Waterhole
Est: AUD7,000 - AUD9,000
oil on canvas, signed l.l.c. 'R Crooke'
Shapiro Auctioneers
sold
Sep. 18, 2023
Ray Austin Crooke, Australian (1922-2015), Islanders in Village, Oil on canvas on board
Est: AUD6,000 - AUD8,000
Ray Austin Crooke Australian (1922-2015) Islanders in Village Oil on canvas on board Signed lower left Titled & Wagner Art Gallery, label verso
Theodore Bruce
sold
Sep. 18, 2023
Ray Austin Crooke, Australian (1922-2015), Islanders near the Sea, Oil on canvas on board
Est: AUD4,000 - AUD6,000
Ray Austin Crooke Australian (1922-2015) Islanders near the Sea Oil on canvas on board Signed lower left Titled & Wagner Art Gallery, label verso
Theodore Bruce
sold
Sep. 18, 2023
Ray Austin Crooke, Australian (1922-2015), Islanders Fishing, Oil on canvas on board
Est: AUD3,000 - AUD5,000
Ray Austin Crooke Australian (1922-2015) Islanders Fishing Oil on canvas on board Signed lower left
Theodore Bruce
sold
Sep. 05, 2023
RAY CROOKE 1922-2015
Est: AUD600 - AUD900
"View of Mosman, Sydney Harbour" Oil on canvas on board. 13.8 x 19.8cm Provenance: From the Estate of George Johnson, Ellendales 6/8/1975
McKenzies Auctioneers
sold
Sep. 05, 2023
RAY CROOKE, VILLAGE ISLANDERS,
Est: AUD35,000 - AUD45,000
RAY CROOKE (1922 - 2015) VILLAGE ISLANDERS oil on canvas 91.5 x 121.5 cm 106.5 x 136.5 cm (frame) signed lower right: R Crooke PROVENANCE Private collection Deutscher~Menzies, Melbourne, 23 August 1999, lot 54 Savill Galleries, Melbourne (label attached verso) Private collection, Melbourne, acquired in 1999 © Ray Crooke/Copyright Agency 2023 This work is located in our Melbourne Gallery
Deutscher and Hackett
sold
Aug. 29, 2023
Ray Crooke (1922-2015) Young Woman with Frangipani, 1999
Est: AUD14,000 - AUD18,000
Ray Crooke (1922-2015) Young Woman with Frangipani, 1999 signed lower right: 'R Crooke' oil on canvas 61.0 x 76.0cm (24 x 29 15/16in).
Bonhams
sold
Aug. 23, 2023
RAY CROOKE 1922-2015 Store, Croydon 1966 oil on composition board 60.7 x 91.5 cm
Est: AUD10,000 - AUD12,000
RAY CROOKE 1922-2015 Store, Croydon 1966 oil on composition board signed and dated 'R Crooke / 66' lower centre right 60.7 x 91.5 cm PROVENANCE Ray Crooke, Sydney The Johnstone Gallery, Brisbane Private Collection, Brisbane, acquired from the above Fine Australian and European Paintings, Sotheby's Australia, Melbourne, 24 November 1998, lot 61, illustrated Private Collection, Queensland, acquired from the above EXHIBITED Paintings by Ray Crooke, The Johnstone Gallery, Brisbane, 5-20 July 1966, no. 11
Smith & Singer
sold
Aug. 20, 2023
CROOKE Ray (1922-2015), 'Lockhart River Mission,' 1954., Ink & W/Clr, 19.5x33cm
Est: AUD1,000 - AUD2,000
CROOKE, Ray (1922-2015) 'Lockhart River Mission,' 1954. Study for a related work. Signed and inscribed in pencil lower right. Ink & W/Clr 19.5x33cm PROVENANCE: Deceased Estate, QLD.
Davidson Auctions
sold
Aug. 20, 2023
CROOKE Ray (1922-2015), Bush Homestead, Gouache, 8x17cm
Est: AUD450 - AUD750
CROOKE, Ray (1922-2015) Bush Homestead Gouache 8x17cm
Davidson Auctions
sold
Aug. 20, 2023
CROOKE Ray (1922-2015), 'Wheat Farm [Victoria]' c.1959., Oil on Board, 60x75cm
Est: AUD6,000 - AUD10,000
CROOKE, Ray (1922-2015) 'Wheat Farm [Victoria]' c.1959. Signed lower left. Oil on Board 60x75cm PROVENANCE: Australian Galleries (label verso); presentation plaque engraved "Wheat Farm by Ray Crooke presented to The Australian Administrative Staff College by members of session 6".
Davidson Auctions
sold
Aug. 20, 2023
CROOKE Ray (1922-2015), Islander and Still Life, Oil on Canvas, 50x40cm
Est: AUD5,000 - AUD7,000
CROOKE, Ray (1922-2015) Islander and Still Life Oil on Canvas 50x40cm
Davidson Auctions
sold
Aug. 20, 2023
CROOKE Ray (1922-2015), Cape York Landscape, Silkscreen A/P (ed. 40), 21.5x27cm (image)
Est: AUD200 - AUD400
CROOKE, Ray (1922-2015) Cape York Landscape Label verso for Philip Bacon Galleries. Silkscreen A/P (ed. 40) 21.5x27cm (image) PROVENANCE: Deceased Estate, QLD.
Davidson Auctions
sold
Aug. 17, 2023
RAY CROOKE (1922 - 2015) - Figure Crafting oil on canvas laid on board 39.5 x 34.5 cm (frame: 73 x 69 x 4 cm)
Est: AUD4,000 - AUD6,000
RAY CROOKE (1922 - 2015) Figure Crafting oil on canvas laid on board 39.5 x 34.5 cm (frame: 73 x 69 x 4 cm) unsigned | Provenance: Purchased from Cherry Jeans at Prouds Gallery, Sydney.
Lawsons
sold
Aug. 17, 2023
RAY CROOKE (1922 - 2015) - Figure Husking a Coconut oil on canvas 18.5 x 23 cm (frame: 51 x 56 x 4 cm)
Est: AUD2,500 - AUD3,500
RAY CROOKE (1922 - 2015) Figure Husking a Coconut oil on canvas 18.5 x 23 cm (frame: 51 x 56 x 4 cm) signed lower right | Provenance: Purchased from Cherry Jeans at Prouds Gallery, Sydney.
Lawsons
sold
Aug. 17, 2023
RAY CROOKE (1922 - 2015) - Figure Sweeping a Hut watercolour and gouache 18.5 x 27.5 cm (frame: 43 x 51 x 5 cm)
Est: AUD3,000 - AUD5,000
RAY CROOKE (1922 - 2015) Figure Sweeping a Hut watercolour and gouache 18.5 x 27.5 cm (frame: 43 x 51 x 5 cm) signed lower left | Provenance: Purchased from Cherry Jeans at Prouds Gallery, Sydney.
Lawsons
sold
Aug. 17, 2023
RAY CROOKE (1922 - 2015) - Pidgeon's returned to the inlet (Diptych) oil on board 13.5 x 20 cm, each (frame: 60 x 51 x 4 cm)
Est: AUD1,000 - AUD1,500
RAY CROOKE (1922 - 2015) Pidgeon's returned to the inlet (Diptych) oil on board 13.5 x 20 cm, each (frame: 60 x 51 x 4 cm) signed lower right | Provenance: Purchased at Cairns Regional Gallery: Postcard Exhibition.
Lawsons
sold
Aug. 17, 2023
RAY CROOKE (1922 - 2015) - Islanders with Fruit oil on Arches paper 50 x 39.5 cm (frame: 85 x 73 x 3 cm)
Est: AUD8,000 - AUD12,000
RAY CROOKE (1922 - 2015) Islanders with Fruit oil on Arches paper 50 x 39.5 cm (frame: 85 x 73 x 3 cm) signed lower right | Provenance: Purchased from Cherry Jeans at Prouds Gallery, Sydney.
Lawsons
sold
Aug. 17, 2023
RAY CROOKE (1922-2015) Out From Normation oil on canvasboard 29 x 39cm; frame size: 43 x 53cm
Est: AUD1,200 - AUD1,800
RAY CROOKE (1922-2015) Out From Normation oil on canvasboard signed lower right: R Crooke titled verso 29 x 39cm; frame size: 43 x 53cm PROVENANCE: Private collection, Queensland
Leonard Joel
sold
Aug. 16, 2023
RAY CROOKE, FAMILY GROUP, THURSDAY ISLAND, 1962 – 63
Est: AUD40,000 - AUD60,000
RAY CROOKE (1922 - 2015) FAMILY GROUP, THURSDAY ISLAND, 1962 – 63 oil on composition board 60.5 x 91.5 cm signed lower right: R. Crooke signed and inscribed verso: THE ISLANDERS / R.CROOKE / YORKEYS KNOB / further signed and inscribed verso: Island / Family / THURSDAY Is. / 1962.3 / Ray Crooke / Nov 00 PROVENANCE Private collection, Perth Leonard Joel, Melbourne, 4 April 2000, lot 252 (as ‘The Islanders’) Savill Galleries, Sydney (label attached verso) Private collection, Sydney EXHIBITED Ray Crooke, Savill Galleries, Sydney, 18 May – 10 June 2006, cat. 3 (illus. in exhibition catalogue) LITERATURE Crooke, R., & Denham, P., Island Journal, Bede Publishing, Brisbane, 2000, p. 2 (illus.) ESSAY ‘…Crooke’s paintings reveal a humility of attitude which does not seek the unusual but achieves it. If his paintings of Australia’s tropical North and the native people going about their simple daily tasks or sitting as monuments in the deep shadow of their huts, spell such an enchantment, it is because poetical truth is deeper than ordinary vision.’1 Drawing inspiration from a lifetime of experience living in Northern Queensland and the adjacent Melanesian islands, Ray Crooke is celebrated for his quiet but intensely evocative landscapes which emphasise the monumental simplicity and laconic grace of people shaped by their environment. Whether engrossed in daily rituals, glimpsed in the cool of shaded rooms or ensnared within webs of light and shade beneath jungle vegetation, his compositions bear a strong sense of locality, describing with unprecedented accuracy this remote region and the unique light that so distinguishes it. Significantly, the serene Family Group, Thursday Island, 1962 – 63 offered here belongs to the first dedicated body of work which the artist undertook following his return to Far North Queensland after successful exhibitions in 1957 and 1959 enabled him to leave Melbourne and settle in Yorkeys Knob where he could paint full-time. While appearing as ‘snapshots’ or portraits of a specific place, these compositions are nevertheless ‘the remembrance of things past’, emerging from the artist’s mind’s eye following the disciplined distillation of observed fact previously explored through studies and sketches. Encapsulating Crooke’s desire to create ‘a romantic form of expression based upon imagination and emotion’2, indeed such works give precedence to mood over action or narrative to examine, rather, the fundamental relationship between man and nature. Fundamental to such conscious ordering of forms towards an aesthetic ideal is Crooke’s enduring preoccupation with tonal relationships, contours and silhouettes, and the dramatic juxtaposition of dark against light. Indeed, despite his richly decorative and highly developed sense of colour, one only need compare such tropical landscapes with those of his artistic predecessor, Paul Gauguin, to discern ‘the differences between an artist working through tone and one who worked through colour.’3 Underpinning the strength and authenticity of his vision, thus the image here is built up from a dark ground organised around tonal relationships to reveal a carefully constructed scene, with the three protagonists silhouetted against the soft dappled sunshine that streams through the window from the sparkling sea beyond. Imbuing the work with a powerful sense of mystery and curious timelessness, it is this sensation of clear defining light which gives stature to islander life and reveals Crooke’s abiding interest in the dignity of man. Betraying strong affinities with the art of Florentine Renaissance masters Giotto and Piero della Francesca in their quest to locate the eternal in the present moment – that point of intersection between time past and time to come – Crooke’s meditations accordingly invite his audience to experience the art of stillness, to appreciate the flow of time in its purest, most metaphysical sense. For, as James Gleeson astutely asserts, that ‘special kind of magic’ in Crooke’s paintings ‘only begins to work when one has discovered the stillness and the silence that lies at the heart of everything he paints... This stillness is not the mere stillness of arrested motion, but the projection of a mind preoccupied with deep and permanent things.’4 1. Langer, G., The Courier-Mail, Brisbane, 8 November 1967 2. Smith, S., North of Capricorn: The Art of Ray Crooke, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville, 1997, p. 7 3. Gleeson, J., ‘Introduction’, Ray Crooke, Collins, Sydney, 1972, unpaginated 4. ibid. VERONICA ANGELATOS © Ray Crooke/Copyright Agency 2023
Deutscher and Hackett
sold
Aug. 13, 2023
RAY CROOKE - LAURA RIVER III - OIL ON CARD
Est: AUD3,000 - AUD4,000
RAY CROOKE (1922-2015) LAURA RIVER III Signed lower right Oil on card 22 x 29cm Estimate $3,000/4,000 AUD
GFL Fine Art
sold
Aug. 07, 2023
Ray Crooke (1922-2015) Australia - Northern Queensland
Est: AUD5,000 - AUD7,000
Ray Crooke (1922-2015) Australia Northern Queensland Oil on canvas Signed lower left
Colville Auctions