NGV staff uncover never-before-seen work by late artist Ralph Balson ahead of new exhibition

A never-before-seen piece of art will be displayed publicly for the first time at one of Melbourne’s most famed galleries after it was discovered by staff in a peculiar hiding spot.

NGV Conservator of Paintings Raye Collins made the thrilling discovery in December 2021. Picture: Jason Edwards

A never-before-seen piece of art will for the first time be available for public viewing at the National Gallery of Victoria following an extraordinary discovery by staff.

Hidden in plain sight for decades, the early 1940s abstract piece by late artist Ralph Balson was found nailed to the back of a painting by close friend and fellow artist Grace Crowley, that was later bequeathed to the gallery after her death almost 45 years ago.

But it was during preparations for next month’s exhibition to celebrate the pair’s long-running history when NGV Conservator of Paintings Raye Collins realised there would be both a rare and unexpected addition to the showcase.

“When I looked very closely at the back of the artwork, it had an old cardboard backing on the back of it which had been painted,” Ms Collins told the Herald Sun.

An early 1940s painting by the late Ralph Balson (pictured right) was found nailed to the back of close friend and fellow artist Grace Crowley’s piece (left). Picture: Jason Edwards

“I noticed some variations in the texture on that backing board, and I realised that it was actually a painting that had been painted out.”

Hi-tech photographic equipment soon determined a likeness to Balson’s work from that time, before a delicate process to remove the cardboard confirmed Ms Collins and gallery curator Beckett Rozentals’ suspicions to be true.

Ms Collins said Balson and Crowley were known to paint together exclusively and often shared or re-used materials during the wartime period.

“At that point, the penny sort of dropped that we might actually have something on the inward facing side of this,” she explained.

Ms Collins, who lists the remarkable discovery as a career highlight, said no one could have prepared her for the enormity of what was uncovered.

The never-before-seen artwork was found nailed to the back of artist Grace Crowley’s portrait (pictured) decades after the piece was gifted to NGV. Picture: supplied

The abstract piece by Ralph Balson, painted in the early 1940s, was likely nailed to Grace Crowley’s artwork for safekeeping during the wartime period. Picture: Supplied

“In the course of my work, we are lucky sometimes to discover an abandoned painting or a painting that’s been painted out, or even a painting underneath another painting,” she said.

“It’s extraordinarily rare that we would find a fully intact complete painting, which, up until this point appears to have been completely unknown to art history.”

Ms Rozentals said the painting – emblazoned with the word ‘storage’ – was likely attached to Crowley’s work for safekeeping amid ongoing threats to bomb Sydney Harbour during WWII.

“Raye and I have ourselves collaborated as conservator and curator throughout this, using Ray’s expertise and I’ve loved our own work together on this,” Ms Rozentals said.

Curator Beckett Rozentals and NGV Conservator Raye Collins made the thrilling discovery back in December 2021. Picture: Jason Edwards

“It adds to part of this story, and what we’ve gotten out of this, and what we’ve been able to also now share with Australian audiences, which is really exciting.”

Visitors can expect an array of Crowley and Balson’s work – some double-sided to feature each of their work – when the gallery’s latest exhibit launches in coming weeks.

“I think people are forever fascinated on painting discoveries on the other side (of existing artwork), and I never would have thought that we were going to make a discovery,” Ms Rozentals said.

“ … It’s a wonderful debut for the painting and a truly exciting moment.”

National Gallery of Victoria’s new Grace Crowley & Ralph Balson exhibition will showcase at The Ian Potter Centre between May 23 until September 22.