Siren Mermaid… Rupert Bunny is this you?

This painting is a mystery that has been giving off contradictory clues to its authorship ever since we purchased the painting. On the reverse of the painting's frame is a label with the inscription “Rowie”. My first thought, was maybe it was by Rosaleen Norton (Australian 1917-1979) “The with of Kings Cross” who painted and drew esoteric works. Norton also modelled for Norman Lindsay whilst staying at the Ship and Mermaid Hotel in Gloucester Street in Sydney’s Rocks area, the setting resembles an area of Lindsay’s property in The Blue Mountains. But further research quickly ruled out those thoughts and brought the possibility of Australian artist Rupert Bunny (1864-1947).

We gathered the opinions and thoughts of several dealers who are familiar with Rupert Bunny works and all expressed the same opinion as our own that it is reminiscent of Bunny in both subject, technique and finish, this is a mythological painting possibly recalling a scene from Homer’s Odyssey. During the late 19th century, Bunny relocated from Melbourne to London and then to Paris, Mermaids Dancing (1896), Siren 1889 and The Forerunners 1895 are all notable Bunny works that fit this period of his oeuvre.

The cassetta frame is a joy. It is painted in gold with an arched opening, it is glazed in non reflective UV resistant museum glass.

The only history known is that the painting was part of an estate sale, it used to reside in Lindfield on Sydney’s north shore. With no further history we have catalogued this as Australian School, Late 19th Century on our website. A wonderful item, it would make a real statement on any wall.