Sidney Nolan
(Australia, England 22 Apr 1917–28 Nov 1992)
Portalegre Tapestry Workshop
(Portugal)
- Title
- Ned Kelly
- Place of origin
-
Portalegre →
Portugal
- Year
- (early 1970s)
- Media category
- Textile
- Materials used
- woven wool tapestry
- Dimensions
-
296.0 x 415.0cm variable
- Signature & date
- Signed l.r. corner, woven in brown wool "Nolan". Not dated.
- Credit
- Margaret Hannah Olley Art Trust 2001
- Accession number
- 409.2001
- Copyright
- © Sidney Nolan Estate
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
This impressive tapestry is based on Nolan's painting 'Kelly and horse' 1946, part of the artist's 1974 gift to the nation held at the Nolan Gallery, Lanyon, near Canberra. It was one of several tapestries Nolan had made at the Portalegre Tapestry Workshop, Portugal (also used by Arthur Boyd and John Olsen) during the 1970s and subsequently exhibited at David Jones' Gallery in Sydney in 1973 and 1975. Translation of the original painted image to a large tapestry, has resulted in an amplification of scale that greatly increases the dramatic and emotional impact of Nolan's subject.
Australian Art Department, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2001
- Bibliography (8)
-
'Year in review', pg. 8-25., Art Gallery of New South Wales Annual Report 2002 2002, 2002, 8.
Margaret Olley (Australia, b.1923, d.2011) (Author), Jeffrey Smart (Italy; Australia, b.1921) (Author), Deborah Hart (South Africa; United Kingdom; Australia, b.1959) (Director), Christine France (Australia) (Co-ordinator), Favourites: Margaret Olley and Jeffrey Smart selections, Sydney, 2002. NOTE: no catalogue numbers; dated 1971; Margaret Olley selection.
'Sidney Nolan tapestry for gallery'., The Australian financial review 09 Aug 2001, 09 Aug 2001, page unknown. 'Oddlots' section
Andrew Sayers (Australia, b.1957) (Author), The Ned Kelly Paintings: Nolan at Heide 1946-47, Melbourne, 1997, 46, 73. cat.no. 23 is the painting 'Kelly and horse' on which this tapestry is based. There is a colour reproduction of this painting on page 46.
Sotheby's Australia (Australia), Fine Australian paintings: including European paintings and a selection of fine furniture, Sydney, 1990, (colour illus.). lot.no. 327
Brian Adams (Australia) (Author), Sidney Nolan: such is life, Melbourne, 1987, 220. Refers to 1973 tapestry exhibition.
Maureen Gilchrist (Australia) (Author), Nolan at Lanyon: an exhibition of the Sidney Nolan gift of twenty-four paintings to the Australian people, Canberra, 1976, 36. cat.no. 13 is the painting 'Kelly and horse' on which this tapestry is based. There is a colour reproduction of this painting, plate no. 3.
'Upending European tradition' by Daniel Thomas., The Sydney Morning Herald 13 Mar 1975, 13 Mar 1975, page unknown. General reference about tapestry exhibition, but not directly about this tapestry.
- Exhibition history (2)
-
Five tapestries by Sidney Nolan (1975), David Jones' Art Gallery, Sydney, 04 Mar 1975–23 Mar 1975.
Favourites: Margaret Olley and Jeffrey Smart (2002), S.H. Ervin Gallery, 12 Jan 2002–24 Feb 2002.
