Sidney Nolan
(Australia, England 22 Apr 1917–28 Nov 1992)
- Title
- Fraser Island
- Other titles:
- Island
- Year
- (1947)
- Media category
- Painting
- Materials used
- Ripolin enamel on hardboard
- Dimensions
-
77.0 x 105.0cm board; 92.7 x 121.0 x 4.5cm frame
- Signature & date
- Signed l.r. corner, white synthetic polymer paint "N". Not dated.
- Credit
- Purchased with funds provided by the Art Gallery Society of New South Wales 2001
- Accession number
- 8.2001
- Copyright
- © Sidney Nolan Estate
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
This bold composition, in which an isolated male figure has been placed in the dead centre of an empty seascape fringed with soft hills set against a pale violet sky is one of Nolan's most haunting images of the late 1940s. It is based on his visit to Fraser Island in North Queensland, which he visited in 1947, partly to investigate the accidental death of his brother Ray in Cooktown two years earlier.
Nolan read about the story of the shipwrecked Englishwoman Eliza Fraser, who became stranded amongst local Aborigines and was rescued by escaped convict David Bracewell, and painted a series pertaining to the narrative. The figure could represent Bracewell, Nolan himself, or perhaps the ghost of the artist's brother. However, the abiding existential mood of this remarkable work transcends local legend, lifting it into the realm of metaphor about the fundamental condition of individual humanity.
Australian Art Department, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2001
- Bibliography (22)
-
Look Oct 2007, Oct 2007, 11. NOTE: Society President, Michael Feneley referencing the Nolan exhibition.
Barry Pearce (Australia) (Author), Frances Lindsay (Australia, b.1946) (Author), Lou Klepac (Australia; Croatia, b.1936) (Author), Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940) (Author), Sidney Nolan, Sydney, 2007, 34 (colour illus.), 62, 63, 233. cat.no. 44; titled 'Frazer Island'
'Doing justice to Nolan', pg. 8., Look Mar 2005, Mar 2005, 8 (colour illus.). NOTE: Reproduction shows Judith White, executive director of the Society, in front of the work.
'Gallery makes room for foundation's gift of Nolans' by Sebastian Smee'., The Australian 21 Dec 2004, 21 Dec 2004.
'Presenting our own artists: how the AGS put balance into the Australian collection' by Barry Pearce, pg. 42-44., Look: 1953-2003 celebrating 50 years May 2003, May 2003, 43-44.
T.G. Rosenthal (Author), Sidney Nolan, London, 2002, 104-105, 106 (colour illus.), 108.
'Important purchases: what the Society and Contempo bought for the Gallery in 2001', pg. 16-17., Look Dec 2001-Jan 2002, Dec 2001-Jan 2002, 16, 17 (colour illus.).
'Nolan boost' by Bronwyn Watson., Look Jun 2001, Jun 2001, 18 (colour illus.), 19.
'Pick of the crop for wily Capon: Gallery acquisitions analysis' by Bruce James, pg. 16., The Sydney Morning Herald 12 Apr 2001, 12 Apr 2001, 16.
Art Gallery of New South Wales Annual Report 2001 2001, 2001, 8, 13 (colour illus.), 24, 26.
'Review: Sidney Nolan, London' by Merlin James, pg. 644-646., The Burlington Magazine Sep 1997, Sep 1997, 645.
Nicholas Isherwood (United Kingdom) (Author), Nolan's Nolans: a reputation reassessed, London, 1997, (colour illus.). cat.no. 33; price £90,000
Nicholas Isherwood (United Kingdom) (Author), Sir Sidney Nolan: a retrospective celebrating his 75th birthday, Harewood, 1992, 6.
Robyn Bondfield (Australia) (Author), Nolan's Fraser, South Brisbane, 1989, (colour illus.).
Jane Clark (Australia) (Author), Sidney Nolan - landscapes and legends: a retrospective exhibition 1937 - 1987, Sydney, 1987, 91, 92 (colour illus.). NOTE: catalogue entry on page 91
Brian Adams (Australia) (Author), Sidney Nolan: such is life, Melbourne, 1987, 95 (illus.), 96.
Sir Kenneth Clark (United Kingdom, b.1903, d.1983) (Author), Bryan Robertson (b.1925) (Author), Colin MacInnes (Australia; England, b.1914, d.1976) (Author), Sidney Nolan, London, 1961, 21, 22. NOTE: General early Australian history
'Little appeal in primitives'., The Courier Mail 18 Feb 1948, 18 Feb 1948, page unknown. NOTE: Review of Moreton Galleries exhibition by Elizabeth Webb; see Curator's files
'I'm not so artful' by Joyce Stirling., Brisbane Telegraph 17 Feb 1948, 17 Feb 1948, page unknown.
The Moreton Galleries (Australia, active 1940s) (Author), Sidney Nolan, Brisbane, 1948. cat.no. 8; titled 'Island'; not paginated
The Moreton Galleries (Australia, active 1940s) (Author), Sidney Nolan, Brisbane, 1948, 13. NOTE: Review of 'Nolan: A Reputation Reassessed'.
The Home annual: Australian life and scenery Oct 1935, Oct 1935.
- Exhibition history (14)
-
Sidney Nolan (1948), The Moreton Galleries, 17 Feb 1948–28 Feb 1948.
Sidney Nolan: landscapes and legends a retrospective exhibition 1937 - 1987, National Gallery of Victoria [St Kilda Road], 03 Jun 1987–26 Jul 1987.
Sidney Nolan: landscapes and legends a retrospective exhibition 1937 - 1987, Art Gallery of New South Wales, 11 Aug 1987–27 Sep 1987.
Sidney Nolan: landscapes and legends a retrospective exhibition 1937 - 1987, Art Gallery of Western Australia, 21 Oct 1987–29 Nov 1987.
Sidney Nolan: landscapes and legends a retrospective exhibition 1937 - 1987, Art Gallery of South Australia, 15 Dec 1987–31 Jan 1988.
Nolan's Fraser, Noosa Regional Gallery, 14 Aug 1989–06 Sep 1989.
Nolan's Fraser, Gladstone Regional Art Gallery, 12 Sep 1989–30 Sep 1989.
Nolan's Fraser, Rockhampton Art Gallery, 05 Oct 1989–29 Oct 1989.
Nolan's Fraser, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, 23 Nov 1989–17 Dec 1989.
Sir Sidney Nolan: a retrospective celebrating his 75th birthday (1992), The Terrace Gallery, 19 Jul 1992–31 Oct 1992.
Nolan's Nolans: a reputation reassessed, Agnew's, London, 11 Jun 1997–25 Jul 1997.
Sidney Nolan (2007-2008), Art Gallery of New South Wales, 03 Nov 2007–03 Feb 2008.
Sidney Nolan (2007-2008), Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, 22 Feb 2008–18 May 2008.
Sidney Nolan (2007-2008), Queensland Art Gallery, 06 Jun 2008–31 Aug 2008.
