ISLANDERS BY LAGOON
RAY CROOKE (1922-2015)
Description:
Signed lower left: R Crooke
Inscribed on stretcher verso: ISLANDERS BY LAGOON, FIJI.
Provenance:
Von Bertouch Galleries, New South Wales
Private collection, Sydney
Deutscher-Menzies, Melbourne, 8 September 2004, lot 77
Private collection, Melbourne
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title
RAY CROOKE (1922 – 2015)
Ray Crooke (1922–2015) was one of Australia’s most celebrated painters, renowned for his serene, atmospheric depictions of tropical landscapes and quiet figurative scenes. Born in Melbourne, Crooke served in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II, an experience that took him to North Queensland and Papua New Guinea—regions that would profoundly shape his artistic vision.
After the war, Crooke studied at the Central Technical College in Brisbane before travelling extensively through Southeast Asia and the Pacific. His work is characterised by a distinctive palette of muted greens, blues, and ochres, capturing the stillness, humidity, and contemplative mood of tropical environments. Often featuring solitary figures or small groups in sparse settings, his paintings evoke a sense of calm introspection and timelessness.
Crooke held numerous solo exhibitions throughout his career and represented Australia at the Venice Biennale in 1968. He was awarded the Archibald Prize in 1969 and appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2000 in recognition of his significant contribution to the visual arts. Today, his work is held in major public and private collections across Australia, and he remains a defining figure in the development of modern Australian painting.