artist: Sidney Nolan (Australian 1917-1992)
medium: mixed media on paper
dimensions: 25.5 x 30.5 cm paper size / 40 x 46 cm frame size (approx)
signed and dated '56 Paris on verso
* study for a magazine cover 1956
* comes with a letter of authenticity from the estate of Lady Nolan
presented in a new hand finished timber frame with double thick archival mat and backing and non-reflective UV glass
AU $2950 (approx US $1945 / 1655 EUROS / 288,000 yen / 1445 GBP - for exact current conversion visit xe.com)
artist bio
Sidney Robert Nolan, born on 22 April 1917 in Carlton, Melbourne, was one of Australia’s most significant and internationally recognised modern painters. He is best known for his bold, mythic interpretations of Australian history and landscape, particularly his celebrated Ned Kelly series (1946–47), which transformed the outlaw into an enduring symbol of Australian identity.
Nolan studied briefly at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School but was largely self-taught, drawing inspiration from modernist currents as well as Australia’s unique environment. He became associated with the Heide Circle, a group of avant-garde artists around patrons John and Sunday Reed, which shaped his early development.
His artistic career spanned more than five decades and included painting, set design, printmaking, and photography. He worked in a distinctive style marked by flat planes of vivid color, simplified forms, and an imaginative, often poetic approach to subject matter. Beyond Ned Kelly, Nolan explored themes of Australian history, literature, and myth—such as the Gallipoli series, Burke and Wills, and depictions of the outback and desert landscapes.
In the 1950s, Nolan moved to Europe, eventually settling in the United Kingdom, but he continued to paint Australian themes throughout his life. His work gained international acclaim, with major exhibitions in Australia, Britain, and the United States.
Nolan received numerous honors, including a knighthood in 1981 and membership in the Order of Merit (Britain) in 1983. He died in London on 28 November 1992, leaving behind one of the most important bodies of work in Australian modern art.
His work is represented both nationally and internationally at galleries including the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the National Gallery of Victoria and the Tate Gallery in London.