MIJAU, Jimmy Mijau (1897-1985)
'Namarrkon the Lightning Man,' 1958.
Bears Dorothy Bennett Collection number 6 together with extensive documentation on label on reverse.
Natural Earth Pigments on Eucalyptus Bark
85.5x44cm

PROVENANCE:
Collection Mr H & Mrs P Wallace, Sydney.

OTHER NOTES:
According to the accompanying documentation this painting was acquired from Midjaw Midjaw at Oenpelli 1958. The documentation reads in part: 'Namarrkon sits up on top of the storm clouds in the Wet Season watching to see how Aboriginals down on earth are behaving themselves. Sometimes his wife sits beside him also keeping a sharp look out for wrongdoers. If he sees something which upsets him he plucks a stone axe from one of his elbows or knees and throws it down at the offender. Sometimes it misses and cleaves a tree in two. The circuit of lightning passes around Namarrkon's head through his wrists and ankles and then around or through his testicles. This symbolises the extreme power of the lightning. Sometimes the medicine men called the Marrkidjbu make use of the lightning man to kill someone who offends them

Estimate $2,000-4,000