Fred Williams masterpiece Forest Pond debuts at Philip Bacon Galleries in Brisbane

WHEN Lyn Williams entrusted one of her late husband’s major masterpieces to a Brisbane art dealer, she wasn’t fussed if it sold. But the painting ended up bringing in a record price tag.

Forest Pond, one of acclaimed Australian artist Fred Williams’ last great masterpieces. Picture: AAP/Darren England

WHEN Lyn Williams entrusted one of her late husband’s major masterpieces to Brisbane art dealer Philip Bacon she wasn’t fussed if it sold or not.

But her late husband Fred Williams, who died in 1982, is revered and soon after the 2m x 4m 1974 work Forest Pond was dispatched to Brisbane for an exhibition at Philip Bacon Galleries it brought a record price.

People in the art world are cagey about prices but sources say it went for just under $3 million to a local collector.

The previous record for a Fred Williams painting is known to be $2.3 million.

Bacon’s show, which is on until June 30, is displaying around $5 million worth of Williams’ work.

Fred Williams’ widow Lyn with Philip Bacon from Philip Bacon Galleries in front of the painting Forest Pond, which fetched a record price. Picture: AAP/Darren England

His widow Lyn, who lives in Melbourne, was in Brisbane for the exhibition opening on Wednesday nibght. She said she really just wanted people to see the work from his estate.

“With Forest Pond, I said to Philip, if you don’t sell it, it really doesn't matter,” Mrs Williams said. “I just want it shown and known. I like to keep his name out there.”

Philip Bacon said he was happy to be entrusted with such a major exhibition.

“It’s a real privilege,” Mr Bacon said. “Fred Williams is in the pantheon of Australia’s greatest artists and none of this work has been shown before. It’s caused a great deal of excitement.”

So much so that last night the new director of The National Galley of Australia (NGA) in Canberra, Nick Mitzevich, flew to Brisbane to open the exhibition and talk about the relationship between Forest Pond and the equally gargantuan Landscape ‘ 74 which is in the collection of the NGA.

Philip Bacon said Mitzevich’s attendance was proof that it was “an historically important show”.