Sidney Nolan

(Australia, England 22 Apr 1917–28 Nov 1992)

Title

Italian crucifix

Year

1955

Media category

Painting

Materials used

enamel on hardboard

Dimensions

93.0 x 123.0cm board; 107.0 x 137.0 x 5.0cm frame

Signature & date

Signed and dated lower c., pencil "Nolan/ 15-4-44". Signed lower c., pale red synthetic polymer paint "n.".

Credit

Purchased with funds provided by the Nelson Meers Foundation 2001

Accession number

410.2001

Copyright

Location

Not on display

Further information

Nolan visited Italy in 1954 for a second time. He travelled extensively, fascinated by the religiousness and sense of antiquity that permeated its landscape and culture. 'Italian crucifix' is one of several paintings on the theme of a primitive crucifix that found its main source in the numerous wayside shrines of the south.

Flanked by selected instruments of the crucifixion, Nolan's central image of a face in the shape of a palette is suggestive of both Christ and the masked bushranger Kelly, adopted in the previous decade as the artist's alter ego. Set against ancient architectural fragments and the arid coastline of Puglia in southern Italy, it conveys what Nolan had felt so strongly to be the Christian/pagan spirit arising from the Italian landscape.

Bibliography (22)

Whitechapel Art Gallery, Sidney Nolan: catalogue of an exhibition of paintings from 1947 to 1957 1957, 'The Italian paintings', London, 1957, 16.

Marie Seton, The painter and sculptor 1959, 'Sidney Nolan - An artist of the Antipodes', pg. 13-19, London, 1959, 13, 14, 19 (illus.). dated 1955; Collection Cynthia Nolan

Sir Kenneth Clark, Bryan Robertson and Colin MacInnes, Sidney Nolan, London, 1961, 140. NOTE: General reference to Nolan's painting on this theme. Related photograph 'Crucifix, Southern Italy', 1954 on page 42.

Brian Adams, Sidney Nolan: such is life, Melbourne, 1987, 130, 132. NOTE: General reference.

Jane Clark, Sidney Nolan - landscapes and legends: a retrospective exhibition 1937 - 1987 1987, Sydney, 1987, 123.

Donald Richardson, Art in Australia 1988, Melbourne, 1988, 140, 142 (colour illus.). cat.no. 12.1; Collection City of Hamilton Art Gallery; dated (1956)

Nicholas Isherwood, Nolan's Nolans: a reputation reassessed 1997, London, 1997, 48, 49 (colour illus.). cat.no. 49; dated 1955; priced £60,000.

Nicholas Isherwood, Nolan's Nolans: a reputation reassessed 1997, London, 1997, 48 (colour illus.), 49. cat.no. 49

Sotheby's Australia, Sotheby's Melbourne: The Estate of Sir Sidney Nolan, Armadale, 2001, 30 (colour illus.). lot no. 16

Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery of New South Wales Annual Report 2002 2002, 'Director's Statement', pg.4-7, Domain, 2002, 6, 7 (colour illus.), 8.

T.G. Rosenthal, Sidney Nolan, 'Chapter nine: Nolan the nomad', pg. 173-187, London, 2002, 173,174, 175 (colour illus.), 176.

Edmund Capon, Foundation Newsletter #2 May 2003, Domain, May 2003, (colour illus.).

Barry Pearce, Look Jul 2003, 'Gift of three Nolans', pg. 11-12, Newtown, Jul 2003, 12 (colour illus.).

Jill Sykes, Look Oct 2004, 'Nolan's Australia', pg. 28-31, Newtown, Oct 2004, 30, 31 (colour illus.).

Michael Stutchbury (Editor), The Australian 19 Dec 2004, 'Nolan the nation's "greatest painter"', Surry Hills, 19 Dec 2004. NOTE: This article also appeared in Melbourne's 'Herald Sun' and 'Daily telegraph', Adelaide's 'Advertiser' and Brisbane's 'Courier mail', on 19 December 2004.

Clare Morgan., The Sydney Morning Herald 21 Dec 2004, 'Gallery sells off the family silver and strikes gold', Sydney, 21 Dec 2004.

Sebastian Smee'., The Australian 21 Dec 2004, 'Gallery makes room for foundation's gift of Nolans', Surry Hills, 21 Dec 2004.

Giucio Montagna (Editor), La Fiamma 22 Dec 2004, 'Sydney [sic] Nolan at the Art Gallery of NSW', pg. 18, Leichhardt, 22 Dec 2004, 18.

Michael Gawenda (Editor in Chief), Age 22 Dec 2004, 'AGNSW's new Nolan room', pg. 6, Melbourne, 22 Dec 2004, 6.

Peter Hill, The Sydney Morning Herald 15 Jan 2005-16 Jan 2005, 'Mix 'n' match', pg. 18, Sydney, 15 Jan 2005-16 Jan 2005, 18. Spectrum supplement of Saturday's edition.

Jill Skyes, Look Mar 2005, 'Doing justice to Nolan', pg. 8, Newtown, Mar 2005, 8.

Barry Pearce, Frances Lindsay, Lou Klepac and Edmund Capon, Sidney Nolan 2007, Sydney, 2007, 48, 158, 163 (colour illus.), 235. cat.no. 68

Exhibition history (1)

Nolan's Nolans: a reputation reassessed, Agnew's, London, London, 11 Jun 1997–25 Jul 1997