29/30 June Barry Pearce

Diploma Lecture Series 2011
Art and Australia ll: European Preludes and Parallels
Australians in London 1950-60
Barry Pearce
29 / 30 June 2011
Lecture summary:
London was the locus spiritus of Australians for almost two centuries from 1788. In the beginning it was
where most colonists were shipped from, including the Irish, and many dreamed of returning to. London
was the heart of civilisation of the English-speaking world, ‘home’ to the furthest reach of Empire. Indeed,
such was its magnetic power, émigré artists from other parts of Europe – such as Eugene von Guerard
and Nicholas Chevalier - returned to London at the end of their careers rather than the countries of their
th
birth. A profound change came over this phenomenon in the mid 20 -century, when Australian art,
instead of being viewed as merely part of the creative legacy of British Empirical bloodlines, made an
impact for its distinct, exotic ‘otherness’, the sign of a brave new world on a path of growing separateness.
Across the English Channel was the lure of Paris, but during the 1950s and 1960s, London was where a
sustainable career on the international stage with a distinct Australian vernacular was most viable, and
visible.
Slide list:
Paul Gauguin 1848-1903
1. Self-portrait 1889, National Gallery of Art, Washington, USA
2. Faa Iheihe (Tahitian pastoral) 1898, Tate, London
3. Le cheval blanc (the white horse) 1898, D’Orsay Museum, Paris
Charles Camoin 1879-1965
4. The inn-keeper of Marnes-La-Coquette, 1899, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Arthur Streeton 1867-1943
5. The centre of Empire 1902, Private collection
6. The Victoria Tower, Westminster 1912, Art Gallery of South Australia
William Dobell 1899-1970
7. Mrs South Kensington 1937, Art Gallery of New South Wales
8. Street scene, Pimlico 1937, Art Gallery of New South Wales
9. Street singer 1938, Art Gallery of Western Australia
10. Sunshower, Ile de la Cite 1945, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Roy de Maistre 1894-1968
11. Francis Bacon’s Queensbury Mews studio 1930, private collection
12. On the slips c.1934, private collection
13. Courtyard by night c.1936, private collection
14. Studio still life with lamp 1946, private collection
Russell Drysdale 1912-81
15. Sofala 1947, Art Gallery of New South Wales
*16. The cricketers 1948, private collection
17. Hill End 1948, Geelong Art Gallery
18. Angry Harrison’s store 1950, James Fairfax collection
19. George Ross of Mullengandra 1950, private collection
Fred Williams 1927-81
20. Max Miller 1955-56, private collection
*21. Coal delivery 1956, Tate, London
Sidney Nolan 1917-92
22. Italian crucifix 1955, Art Gallery of New South Wales
23. Kelly 1956, Art Gallery of New South Wales
24. Convict in swamp 1960, private collection
25. Kelly and landscape 1960, private collection
26. Leda and swan 1958, Art Gallery of New South Wales
*27. Baboon 1963, private collection
28. Bird 1964, private collection
Arthur Boyd 1920-99
*29. Nude, black dog and tent by a black pool 1961, private collection
30. Nude with beast II (Diana and Actaeon series) 1962, National Gallery of Australia
31. Nebuchadnezzar blind on a starry night with lion’s head c.1966-68, private collection
32. Oz Magazine covers issues 1 to 12
33. Anthony Bourke and John Randall, A lion called Christian 1971
34. Kerry Dundas, A hard core of sit down demonstrators, Ruislip c.1961
35. Robert Whitaker, Germanie Greer 1968
36. Terry Cordwell, Jake the Peg 1965
37. Lewis Morley, Barry Humphries at the Establishment, London 1962
38. Catalogue Recent Australian painting, Whitechapel Gallery, London 1961
Brett Whiteley 1939-92
39. Gold mining 1960, private collection
*40. Untitled red painting 1960, Tate, London
41. Woman in bath 1964, Art Gallery of New South Wales
42. Christie with Hectorina McClennan 1964, National Gallery of Australia
43. Two Indonesian giraffes 1964, private collection
Colin Lanceley b1938
*44. Glad family picnic 1961, Art Gallery of New South Wales
45. Altar 1967, National Gallery of Australia
46. The object of all travels is to arrive at the shores of the Mediterranean 1971-72, private collection
47. Suddenly last summer 1977, Queensland Art Gallery
Piero di Cosimo 1462-1521
48. Mythological subject (Death of Procris) c. 1495, National Gallery, London
Titian
49. The Death of Acteon, National Gallery, London
Piero della Francesca
50. The baptism 1450s, National Gallery, London
51. The nativity 1470-75, National Gallery, London
Russell Drysdale 1912-81, The cricketers 1948, private collection
Fred Williams 1927-81, Coal delivery 1956, Tate, London
Sidney Nolan 1917-92, Baboon 1963, private collection
Arthur Boyd 1920-99, Nude, black dog and tent by a black pool 1961, private collection
Brett Whiteley 1939-92, Untitled red painting 1960, Tate, London
Colin Lanceley b1938, Glad family picnic 1961, Art Gallery of New South Wales