Ronald Jorgensen is infamous for the Bassett Road machine gun murders in Remuera where he and John Gillies shot dead two rival sly groggers in December 1963.

Arrested, convicted and sentenced to life, Jorgensen took up painting in prison running a good business selling his work to fellow inmates.

Jorgensen came to public attention again in 1984, following his release from prison, when his abandoned car was found at the bottom of a Kaikoura cliff. His body was never found, though he was declared dead in 1998. Rumours abounded about his location, with associates believing he had become a police informant in Australia. His actual fate remains unknown.

This work was offered for sale by International Art Centre in March 2005. At the time it carried and estimate of $1,500 - 2,500 and fetched $8,250 + buyers premium. Only three of his works have appeared at auction since.