6 Mar 2012

Hodgkins sketch discovered on back of painting

10:43 pm on 6 March 2012

An unknown watercolour by New Zealand artist Frances Hodgkins has been discovered on the back of another painting.

The Dunedin Public Art Gallery says the work in progress is a sketch of what is believed to be the River Tone in Somerset in southwest England.

Public programmes manager Robyn Notman told Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint programme the Dunedin artist is known to have been that part of England in about 1934.

The works became available through an estate and was sold at auction in the United Kingdom before being brought to New Zealand.

Ms Notman says works by Hodgkins usually sell for between $20,000 and $45,000. However, she is not sure if the new painting would go for more.

The Dunedin gallery has 58 of her works.