The story of the sale of the 'Endeavour' - a painting by William Huang
An excited Monica stood at the
window taking in the awesome display over Botany Bay.
Monica's quivering dog, Molly,
took shelter under Gerry and Anne's lace tablecloth.
Outside people sheltered under the gallery awning,
drinking their take-away coffee from the Endeavour coffee shop next
door.
The sheltering group outside is dominated by about 6
dark-haired young men. A couple of them come inside
and are overawed at the gallery display. They go back out to their friends and
several more come inside. One is especially taken with William's 'Endeavour'
painting. Monica tells him the artist lives nearby and is still at school. He
is very impressed, noting that he has trouble drawing even a straight line.
They all troop back outside. Eventually one returns and asks if prices are
negotiable. 'How much for cash for the Endeavour painting?' (priced at
$380). Monica calls William who says to check with his mother who isn't home.
'How much do you want to pay?' Monica asks the negotiator. He pulls out his
calculator. Asks if there is an EFTPOS handy. Quotes a price. Monica calls
William's mother. She checks with her husband, then agrees to the price.
Meanwhile the gallery has filled with other people. The negotiator goes back
outside and explains all that has happened. The purchaser, returning with
him, says he's not sure that he wants to buy that painting. He points out one
of Monica's and one of Olga's that he also likes. They troop back outside, as
does everyone else.
It's still pouring. Molly is
still hiding. The young men outside have a whiparound to come up with the
agreed price. The negotiator and purchaser return. 'How are we going to get it
home through the rain? Do you have any bubble wrap to protect it?'
'Sure', Monica responds, remembering Gerry's roll under her table. 'Do you know
how to wrap it?' 'Sure', Monica says, although she is not so sure. 'Do we get
the frame as well?' 'Yes, everything', whereupon the purchaser reaches up and
removes the picture from the wall (saving Monica a struggle with the
ladder) while she retrieves the roll of bubble wrap - and now she sees that it
is only about 8" wide, and William's picture is large. But they manage.
The three of them use more than 1/2 the roll, wrapping it around the picture,
first lengthwise, then along the width. Monica attempts to open a very large
roll of sellotape. The purchaser takes the roll from her. 'I'm good with
sellotape', he says, and she's more than glad to leave that task to
him.
'This is the first painting he
has ever bought', says the negotiator of his friend.
'This picture is not going to be
unwrapped until I can hang it on the wall of my house,' says the
purchaser.'I don't have a house yet,' he adds.
Monica asks him if he has made any other purchases for his non-existent house.
'No, this is the first one', he says.
They hand over the cash.
As they leave Monica points out William in the newspaper cutting on the door.
'This should be worth a fortune in about 375 years,' chortles the purchaser as he walks away, painting under his arm.
