Death of a Poet (1954)

Sidney Robert Nolan

Ripolin on Masonite board

Classification:

Mixed media

Materials:

Ripolin, Masonite board

Physical Object Description:

Bust of poet between plant leaves against monochrome blue background. Inscribed: 'Sidney Nolan, 54', front, bottom left

Dimensions:

91.5 x 122 cm

Accession Number:

WAG 3173

Credit:

Presented by the Contemporary Art Society, 1959

Scheme:

Historic Purchase by Purchaser (1914-2008)

Ownership history:

Purchased from the artist's solo exhibition at the Whitechapel Art Gallery by Eric Newton (1893-1965) for the Contemporary Art Society, 1957; presented to the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, 1959

Relationship:

Eric Newton Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool

Subject:

Portraits

One of Australia's leading artists of the 20th century, Sidney Nolan worked in a wide variety of media and is best known for his series of paintings on legends from Australian history, most famously Ned Kelly, the bushranger and outlaw.

Death of a Poet (1954) depicts the death mask of Kelly, a hero / anti-hero figure who obsessed Nolan. A figure who divides opinion today, Kelly championed the rights of the working class but was also associated with violence and murder, for which he was eventually arrested and tried. It was purchased from the artist's solo exhibition Sidney Nolan 1957 in London at the Whitechapel Art Gallery by Eric Newton (1893-1965) who was a designted buyer for the Contemporary Art Society in that year.

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