b'9 Wiliam Dobell/Copyright Agency, 2022 66WILLIAM DOBELL (18991970)The Sepic at Angoram, 1949,watercolour and gouache on paper,titled lower left, signed lower right,11 x 16cmPROVENANCEChristies, Australian Paintings, Melbourne, 01/03/1973, Lot No. 207.Usually spelled Sepik, the river depicted in this painting isstation and bird of paradise sanctuary at Nondugl in the central the longest in New Guinea. Dobell shows a fishing village onhighlands of New Guinea, it was the first time Dobell had ever the banks with natives working in the fields in the foreground. stepped inside an aircraft and despite initial nerves, the artist In May 1949, Dobell, in an endeavour to escape publicitywas captivated by everything he saw. For the following three after his 1948 Archibald Prize win (for his painting of Margaretmonths he drew and painted watercolours of the landscape, Olley), left Australia with his friend, writer Colin Simpson, invillage life and the highlanders themselves.the company of philanthropist, Sir Edward Hallstrom. One of$8,00010,00027 guests flown by Hallstrom to his experimental sheep'