Norman Lindsay is a Very important Australian Artist

By Jamie Horne


Norman Lindsay's complete name was Norman Alfred William Lindsay, he was born on February 22nd, 1879 in Creswick, Victoria and little did he know that his skill and creative abilities would some day make him Australia's most recognized and adored artist. Born to Robert Charles William Alexander Lindsay, a physician and his mum was Jane Elizabeth Lindsay. He had a total of 10 brothers and sisters among them 4 sisters and 5 brothers that included Percy and Lionel, also successful painters in their own right. Norman Lindsay is without question broadly thought to be as one of Australia's best painters and has left a important selection of paintings that are now keenly wanted by collectors and investors alike. Norman obtained numerous talents along with opinions that would certainly insight talk and debate with regards to several of his political views along with how he pictured them in his paintings. Norman was an accomplished painter, etcher, writer, sculptor, and pencil drawer not to mention having released a good number of books.

Norman Lindsay generated a vast quantity of artworks in a variety of media such as oils, watercolours, etchings and pencil drawings. Norman wrote children's stories and is usually best identified for his tale The Magic Pudding that is still printed at present. Some of his publications created outrage with regard to its subject matter one especially, Redheap ended up being forbidden. One of his most well written about early positions had been as a cartoonist for the Bulletin. In the course of his employment at the The Bulletin he illustrated the political ideas of the newspaper plus his own which were very often considered bigoted as well as very right winged. Several of the cartoon characters which appeared consistently in his cartoons were the Red Menace and also the Yellow Peril. His artwork was the major avenue which he utilised to voice his political feelings. He furthermore had a taste for the sensual. He was well known to his good friends to be a compulsive artist always working on one fine art project or another.

While his address at Falconbridge was established amongst outstanding gardens and it increased in size over the years his studio was humble and this served as a catalyst to other artists. Norman Lindsay generated some superb paintings and drawings throughout his lifetime however he was also very well regarded for his etchings and sculptures.Norman discovered his artistic talents as a young child when he was very sick. Though a number of of Norman's sibblings were seasoned artists it was Lionel, his brother with whom he eventually moved to Melbourne in order to take up employment with a regional publication.

Changing jobs, Norman and his brother resolved to go to work for the Sydney Bulletin. Their employment had them being employed as artists, sketching caricatures, cartoons and pictures to be published in the magazine. Lionel got a reputation for being troublesome and whilst an extraordinary artist he eventually left the Bulletin leaving behind Norman to grow. One of Norman Lindsay's pen pictures referred to as Crucified Venus was taken down from an art show after it was regarded as offensive. Eventually the art was returned to the display the moment the President of the Society of Artists threatened to take away most of the other paintings if it was not returned.

Norman Lindsay was married twice, his first spouse Catherine left him in 1909 and he remarried in 1920 to Rose who had been one of his models. Rose had been a well-liked model but she was at the same time an exceptional businesswoman and can be credited for a good deal of Norman's success. She oversaw his work and because Norman Lindsay was continually moving onto his next piece after he completed one, she soon accumulated an outstanding selection most of which has now been preserved. So well known and legendary is the Norman Lindsay brand that his works are displayed in the principal Australian art galleries and hold pride of place in a large number of private homes and corporate offices. Auction houses frequently offer a wide range of Norman Lindsay pieces of art and the huge demand has seen a continual rise in values over the years. Norman Lindsay passed on in 1969 and will always appreciated as one of Australia's very best and most controversial artists.




About the Author: