Sidney Nolan

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Image:Nolan painting of ned kelly on trial.JPG Image:Nedkellyicon.png

Sir Sidney Robert Nolan (April 22, 1917 - 28 November, 1992) was one of Australia's most well-known painters.

Nolan was born in Melbourne and attended the National Gallery Art School. He was close friend with the arts patrons John and Sunday Reed, and is regarded as one of the leading figures of the so-called "Heide Circle" that also included Albert Tucker, Joy Hester and Arthur Boyd. He joined the Angry Penguins in the 1940s.

After leaving the army during World War II, Nolan lived for some time at the Reed's home, "Heide" outside Melbourne (now the Heide Museum of Modern Art). Here he painted the first canvasses in his famous "Ned Kelly" series, reportedly with input from Sunday Reed. Nolan also conducted an open affair with Sunday Reed at this time although he subsequently married John Reed's sister, Cynthia, after Sunday refused to leave her husband and marry him. He later married Mary Boyd, a member of the Boyd artistic dynasty and former wife of John Perceval.

He later studied at the Atelier 17, Paris, under the famous S. W. Hayter.

Nolan painted a wide range of personal interpretations of historical and legendary figues, including explorers Burke and Wills, and Eliza Fraser.

Probably his most famous work is a series of stylised descriptions of the bushranger Ned Kelly in the Australian Outback. Paintings of Dimboola landscapes by Sidney Nolan, who was stationed in the area while on army duty in World War II, can be found in the National Gallery of Victoria.

In 1950 Nolan moved to London, England, where he lived until his death. Nolan's treatment of his wife Cynthia led to a bitter and long-running public feud between Nolan and his former friend, writer Patrick White, that lasted until Nolan's death.

Nolan is less well known for his skilled theatrical set designs and book illustrations.

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