CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone:
Facsimile:
61-3-9864-9999
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
Media Release
November
26th, 2008
DENNIS LILLEE PAINTING TO BE SOLD AT AUCTION
Victor Rubin is one of the few artists to successfully capture the power and passion of Dennis Lillee, the
controversial Australian fast bowler who still wears the mantle of enfant terrible of international cricket. His
celebrated oil on canvas, ‘Dennis Lillee’, will be sold by Leski Auctions in Melbourne in December.
The work measuring 180 x 120cm is part of a series called ‘Legendary Moments’. Two of the works, Ron
Barassi and Jack Dyer, were purchased by the MCG Redevelopment Artworks Program and hang in the
Olympic Stand.
The Sydney-born artist has also courted controversy in his professional life, often unwittingly. In 2003, art
critic Robert Nelson attacked the standard of judging of the Archibald Prize, won by Geoffrey Dyer for his
portrait of author and filmmaker, Richard Flanagan. Nelson said: “How could the judges have preferred so
much rubbish to Victor Rubin’s Self-portrait, with its expressive composition and compelling gesture?”
Rubin’s works hang in public and private galleries and have been purchased by notable collectors including
Miles Davis and Patrick White.
“It’s unusual for a serious artist to devote himself to sporting figures,” says Charles Leski. “I’m not sure that
Victor Rubin is an aficionado of cricket, but rather a keen observer of people who’ve helped to shape
Australia’s engagement with the world.”
Victor Rubin’s ‘Dennis Lillee’ will be offered for sale by Leski Auctions on Tuesday, December 2nd at
6.30pm. It has a pre-sale estimate of $6,000 - $7,000.
About Leski Auctions
Leski Auctions was established in 1973 and is one of Australia’s leading auctioneers of Sporting Memorabilia,
Australiana, Collectibles and World Philately.
Leski Auctions is a recognised leader in the area of early photography, art, wine, cameras, books, autographs,
entertainment memorabilia, medals, coins, stamps, aerophilately, cigarette and trade cards, maps, railway
memorabilia, advertising artwork and posters, and the Olympics, football and cricket..
It was the first auction house in Australia to introduce an on-line, real-time bidding system ‘Live Bid Online’™,
which allows participation from anywhere in the world. It currently runs 22 auctions per year.
Leski Auctions has previously sold many significant collections, including those of Shirley Strickland, Ron Clarke,
Sir Reginald Ansett and former RSL President, Bruce Ruxton. It has sold more ‘baggy green’ caps than any other
auction house in the world, and is one of the largest auctioneers of cricket memorabilia by value and volume.
Leski Auctions recently sold the newly-discovered Phar Lap horse tonic recipe book. It recently achieved a world
record price for a Bradman bat.
Managing Director Charles Leski is a registered valuer for the Cultural Gifts Program through the Department of
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. He is also the valuer of the displayed items at the National Sports
Museum at the MCG, Melbourne.
The company is located at 13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123 Australia. Telephone +61-3-864 9999 and
Issued by:
Charles Leski, Leski Auctions
Michael Krape, Michael Krape Consulting
CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone:
Facsimile:
61-3-9864-9999
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
Tel: 61-3-9864 9999
Tel: 0403 135 880
charles@leski.com.au
michaelkrape@krape.com.au
NEWS 
