Born in the small Victorian town of Creswick on the 22nd February 1879, Norman Alfred William Lindsay was destined to turned into an Australian icon and one of the countries most celebrated and controversial painters. His parents were Jane Elizabeth Lindsay and Robert Charles William Alexander Lindsay.
He had a total of ten brothers and sisters including four sisters and 5 brothers which included Percy and Lionel, also successful painters in their own right. His reputation as an artist has stood the test of time and well into the 21st Century his works continue to be keenly searched after by both Australian and Foreign enthusiasts alike.
Norman Lindsay used his competency as an artist to illustrate his political and social ideas that would very often create strong argument and discussion within the wider community. Lindsay was a man with a lot of artist skillsets and as well as being highly successful as an oil painter, water-colourist, etcher, model ship builder, cartoonist and sculptor.
He is among Australian art histories most prolific artists employing a number of mediums such as oil paintings, watercolours, etchings, pen and ink and pencil drawings. Norman Lindsay was an experienced writer and his children’s publication, The Magic Pudding, is actually still well-liked nowadays.
However definitely not all of Norman’s writings gained well-accepted status, his book called ‘Redheap’ ended up being suspended for its controversial subject material. Among his most well documented early on occupations had been as an illustrator for the Bulletin. At the Bulletin the Red Menace as well as the Yellow Peril were highly famous themes in his cartoons, expressing the social ideas of the paper and his political view which was often regarded as improper and right winged politics. His political opinion was frequently shown throughout his artwork.
Obviously Lindsay is also acknowledged as having a preference for the sensual like voluptuos naked models. He was renowned to his associates to be a hard working worker consistently working on one art project or another.
His creative imagination was impressed upon additional artists of the era as he resided in very humble surrounds as an artist and as such was in position to function as one, utilising his illustrating of cartoons and development of etchings to build a substantial quantity of artworks. Norman Lindsay produced a lot of superb paintings and drawings throughout his life however he was additionally very well regarded for his etchings and sculptures.While ill as a youngster he coached himself to draw. Whilst several of Norman’s sisters and brothers were seasoned artists it was Lionel, his brother with whom he may likely relocated to Melbourne to take up work with a local publication.
Changing employment, Norman and his brother moved to work for the Sydney Bulletin. Their employment had them having a job as artists, drawing caricatures, cartoons and pictures to be published in the magazine. Lionel acquired a reputation for being irritating and whilst an impressive artist he soon left the Bulletin leaving Norman to prosper. One of Norman Lindsay’s pen images known as Crucified Venus was removed from an art display when it was considered questionable. Eventually the art was returned into the display as soon as the President of the Society of Artists threatened to take out all the other works if it was not returned.
Norman Lindsay was married twice, his first wife Catherine eventually left him in 1909 and he remarried in 1920 to Rose who had been one of his models. She also moved into the position of his business manager, a position that she performed particularly well. She oversaw his work and as Norman Lindsay was constantly moving onto his next piece after he completed one, she swiftly accumulated an impressive selection a large number of of which has now been preserved. Norman Lindsay Art may be seen in many art museums throughout the world as well as in many private collections. Today investors have regular access to a number of Norman Lindsay oil paintings, watercolours, pencils drawings and prints. One of Australia’s leading artists, Norman Lindsay passed away on 21st November 1969.
Whether you might be an Investor, Collector or Lover of Fine art you can find out more about the dazzling life and works of Norman Lindsay online. Have a look at Jamie Horne’s website NormanLindsay.net which is dedicated to this spectacular Australian artist.
