ARTHUR BOYD - A VISUAL TIMELINE - A VISUAL TIMELINE EDUCATION GUIDE
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ARTHUR BOYD - A VISUAL TIMELINE
Open Country cottage, Murrumbeena, c1917
EDUCATION GUIDE
Merric Boyd’s eight fire box kiln at Open Country,
Arthur Merric Bloomfield Boyd Murrumbeena, c1917
is born at Murrumbeena, a The ‘brown room’ at Open Country cottage Following the death of his wife
1917-19 with sculpture The Prodigal Son by
suburb of Melbourne, to Mer- Arthur’s father Merric Boyd- the Merric Boyd.
Emma Minnie Arthur’s grandfa-
ric and Doris Boyd (ceramicist father of Australian studio pot- ther, Arthur Merric Boyd, moves
and painter respectively). His tery- experiments with high heat to Rosebud on the Mornington
grandparents Arthur Merric in a gas kiln. There is a fire at the Arthur leaves Murrumbeena Peninsula. Arthur lives with him
and Emma Minnie are also kiln, the pottery, studio kiln and state school, where he won for three years, painting land-
artists. Arthur grows up at recipes for glazes are destroyed. the First Award for Art for scapes and family portraits with
Open Country in an environ- Merric suffers a breakdown and three years in a row. He his grandfather’s encourage- Studio at Open Country designed by Robin Boyd
ment where everyone is his epilepsy worsens. works in his uncle’s paint ment. He has a boat for explor-
factory, and his wages are Arthur’s grandfather commissions
encouraged to paint, draw ing the bay and the creeks. He
used to support the family. cousin, architect Robin Boyd, to
or model in clay. The Brown “My mother ...was the backbone of makes a cart for carrying all his
our family. Without her, our life would He paints portraits of his design a studio at Open Country
Room is the focus of family painting equipment behind him
have fallen to pieces” Arthur Boyd siblings and self portraits. for Arthur to live and work in.
life. on a bike.
Arthur, together with his brothers
Guy and David, builds the studio.
24 JULY 1920 1926 1934 1936 1938
Merric Boyd
Figure of Arthur Boyd age House at Murrumbeena 1934
three years 1923 Oil on board
Storm Sky 1933
Ceramic Oil on board
First oil painting by Arthur Boyd
Pastoral landscape with fence c1936
Self portrait 1935 Oil on canvas
Oil on canvas Page 1
Arthur Boyd’s studio at Open Country, The Grange Mural - detail
c1945: from left, Matcham Skipper, Myra
Yvonne Lennie and Arthur Boyd in Bendigo 1941 Skipper, Joy Hester, Yvonne Lennie, Arthur Family and friends at Open Country, c1951
Boyd, David Boyd, photo Albert Tucker Arthur’s uncle, the writer l to r back; Hatton Beck, Merric Boyd, David
Boyd, ; centre Yvonne and son Jamie Boyd,
AMB Pottery Muurumbeena. John Percival top Martin Boyd, returns from unidentified, John Perceval, Mary Boyd, Lucy
LHS, Neil Douglas top RHS. Arthur Boyd decorating
tea pot set lower LHS Europe. He commissions Boyd(with child), Guy Boyd; front: Joy Hester,
On 6 March 1945 Arthur Arthur to paint the Grange Arthur Boyd, Doris Boyd, source unknown.
Arthur endures army service. and Yvonne are married.
He meets painter Yvonne Len- Mural,incorporating the
Arthur paints portraits of biblical stories of Susannah
nie, his future wife, and other friends and family. The Arthur and his family visit Horsham
artists, including Sidney Nolan, Arthur lives at Murrumbeena and the Elders, The Prodigal and the Wimmera. National gallery
Brown Room is a meeting Son and the Assumption,
John Perceval, Joy Hester and with Yvonne from 1944. He place for artists, poets and of Victoria purchases Irrigation Lake,
Albert Tucker. He exhibits with establishes the AMB pottery with at the old family home at Wimmera. Arthur returns to Open
philosophers. Arthur meets Harkaway, outside Mel-
the Contemporary Art Society in John Perceval, Neil Douglas and European refugees such as Country and works on large painted
Melbourne. others. bourne. tiles.
artist Yosl Bergner.
1941-44 1944 1945-6 1948-9 1950
Above
Still life with piano 1940
Figure study incomplete Prodigal son? 1948
Oil
Oil
Jug with church and country road c1940
Ceramic Right
Portrait of Yvonne Boyd 1945 Plate, Angel and ramox 1948
Oil on canvas Ceramic
Page 2
Photo left
Arthur Boyd in his studio in London,
1962, photo: Alex Poignant,
Arthur’s work includes theatre
design, paintings and ceram-
ics. He takes his first and only
Aboriginal home 1950s flight to Paris with Sidney Nolan
and Barry Humphries in 1966
for a major Picasso show. Open
Arthur receives immediate
Country is sold and Adelaide
Photo: Arthur Boyd working on maquette critical acclaim with his first Photo, Arthur Boyd painting at his easel, c1970
Festival retrospective of Boyd’s
for Olympic sculpture, 1955 solo exhibition in London
work held. The Boyds travel to
of mostly Half-caste Bride
Arthur continues ceramic pro- Europe, visiting Assisi, leading In England, Arthur spends time at his
paintings in August 1960.
duction and painting, including to the St Francis series. house in Suffolk painting landscapes.
He continues work on the
major ceramic commission for A print retrospective at Maltzan Gal-
Bride paintings and prints.
Melbourne Olympics in 1956. Arthur signed a petition protest- lery is held in London. Lysistrata col-
Photo: Arthur Boyd with Bridegroom and He designs sets and cos-
Gargoyles, 1958 Represents Australia with Sir ing about Australia’s involve- laboration is commenced with Peter
tumes for Robert Helpmann’s
Arthur Streeton at the 1958 ment in the Vietnam War- his Porter in 1970. He returns to Aus-
ballet Electra. Retrospective
Venice Biennale. The Antipode- son Jamie is of an age for serv- tralia, travelling in Victoria, NSW and
Arthur travels to the Central exhibition held at London’s
ans Exhibition is launched and ice. He begins the Nebuchadn- Queensland. He reviews the collection
Australia, where he experi- Whitechapel Gallery. Mother
Merric Boyd dies. In November ezzar paintings, attributing the of drawings made by his father in the
ences Aborigines for the first Doris Boyd dies in 1960.
1959 he travels with his family series to anti-war protests. last years of his life and saved from
time. He is shocked by their Arthur joins the Campaign
to England, supported by a sti- Franz Phillips’ Arthur Boyd Open Country. He produces The Pot-
living conditions. for Nuclear Disarmament
pend from Australian Galleries. monograph is published. ter series in homage to his parents.
protest.
1951 1955-59 1960-62 1963 to 1967 1968-70
Potter throwing a black figure 1968-9
Etching
Ceramic painting, Draft of fishes 1950-52
Ceramic
Lovers on fire in boat with kite 1965
Olympic sculpture completed 1956 Nebuchadnezzar with blue flowers and white dog
Oil on canvas
Ceramic c1969
Oil on canvas Page 3
Riversdale, mid 1976c
In England Arthur continues work
Bundanon Homestead circa 1970 inspired by Shoalhaven landscape,
including paintings questioning his
Arthur returns to Canberra Arthur Boyd in his studio at Riversdale, in the 1970s in front
calling as an artist. Major exhibition at of a painting of Arthur’s Hill.
early 1972 and paints plein
Fischer Fine Art, London is held.
Arthur leaves England to take air using landscape, figures
He buys Riversdale on the banks of
up a Creative Arts Fellowship in landscape and the col-
the Shoalhaven near Bundanon and Inspired by the election of Gough Whitlam, Arthur presents a
at ANU in October. He looks ours and high key tones of
adds to the buildings to create a home major gift of paintings, ceramics, prints and drawings to the
at properties around Can- the Shoalhaven. He returns
and studio. National Gallery of Australia. He continues Shoalhaven artworks
berra and visits Bundanon in to England and decides to
He returns to Australia in October and collaborates with poet Peter Porter on The Lady and the
late 1971 for two weeks as establish an Australian base
1974; lives at Eearie Park while work Unicorn, their second joint work. Porter’s visit to Riversdale also
the guest of owners Frank on the Shoalhaven River.
at Riversdale is completed. He sees results in a third collaboration, Narcissus. Returning to England
McDonald and Sandra and He asks Frank McDonald to
the Shoalhaven River in flood for the he has a major exhibition at Fischer Fine Art, London. He begins
Tony McGrath. Bundanon has look out for properties in the
first time, which delays the move into the Narcissus series in 1977.
a profound effect on Arthur. vicinity of Bundanon.
Riversdale until May 1975.
1971 1972 1973-4 1975-77
Suffolk landscape 1972
Oil
Waterfall and rock face at Shoal-
haven Valley 1975 The Lady and the Unicorn -
Watercolour and gouache on paper The Unicorn and the Ark 1973-4
Etching and aquatint Reflected kangaroo c1976
Oil on canvas
Landscape with white figure 1972
Oil on canvas Page4
Arthur painting in the Shoalhaven bush c1980s Bundanon Homestead, c1985
Shoalhaven Spring Festival 1982
Arthur returns to Australia and
Bundanon in February. He He returns to England. The Shoal-
paints a series of large, iconic haven works are shown at Austral-
Arthur returns to England in ian Galleries in Melbourne and
Shoalhaven images based
Arthur Boyd building his studio at Bundanon, early 1982. He makes the fam- Holdsworth Gallery in Sydney.
on the river and bush around
c1981 ily house in Paretaio,Tuscany,
Bundanon. He is commissioned
available to the Australia Council Seven Persistent Images exhibition
to design the tapestry for Great
Bundanon Homestead, c1979 for artists travelling overseas. shows at Australian National Gal-
Hall of New Parliament House.
Arthur opposes sand min- Sandra McGrath’s The Artist and lery, drawn from the 1975 Arthur
He creates 16 canvases for the
Arthur and Yvonne Boyd ing on the Shoalhaven River. the River published. Bundanon Boyd gift. It tours nationally through
foyer of Victorian Arts Centre.
puchase Bundanon from He starts to consider giving is open to the public for the first to 1986. The film Arthur Boyd in
Sandra and Tony McGrath Bundanon away to the people time in September 1982 as the Landscape is made for London
He is made Honorary Doctor
and Frank McDonald in the of Australia. Arthur builds his part of the Shoalhaven Spring Weekend Television.
of Letters, University of Mel-
summer of 1979. studio at Bundanon. Festival.
bourne.
1982-83
1978-9 1980-1 1984 1985
Shoalhaven landscape c1979
Oil on canvas,
Right
Crucifixion and rose 1979-80
Untitled (Shoalhaven landscape) c1978 Oil on canvas Curved body, Skull and Black Creek 1983
Ink drawing on paper Hanging rocks and bathers 1985
Oil on canvas
Page5
Arthur and Yvonne
Boyd on the balcony of
Bundanon Homestead
photo: Greg Weight,
1993
Arthur and Yvonne Boyd in the kitchen at Bundanon.
photo: Greg Weight, 1993
Ursula Hoff’s The Art of Arthur
Boyd is published. Arthur
represents Australia at the Arthur Boyd and Prime Minister Paul Keating at Bundanon
43rd Venice Biennale in 1988 At the memorial service for Sir Sidney
Portrait of Arthur Boyd
with eight major works. He is Nolan on 28 January 1993, Prime Minister photo: Greg Weight, 1993
commissioned to paint Earth Paul Keating announced the Australian On 26 January 1995 Prime Minister Paul Keating
and Fire for the cover of TIME Government’s acceptance of Arthur and announces Arthur Boyd as Australian of the Year
Magazine 28 November 1988 Yvonne Boyd’s gift of Bundanon and the for his contribution to Australian art and the gen-
Bundanon’s artist in residence pro-
issue. He paints The Austral- intention to establish the Bundanon Trust. erosity of his many gifts to the Australian people.
gram is advertised nationally. Janet
ian Scapegoat. The Boyd’s Trustees are established by the Australian Testament of a Painter is filmed. The Boyds return
McKenzie’s Arthur Boyd at Bundanon
begin to discuss the gifting of Govenrment to oversee the operation of to Australia by container ship in May and Arthur
published. Arthur Boyd Retrospective
Bundanon with Federal Arts Bundanon Trust. Arthur Boyd Retrospective receives his award in person from the Prime Min-
exhibition tours nationally.
Minister Clyde Holding. held at AGNSW. ister at Bundanon in August.
1986-90 1993 1994 1995
Nebuchadnezzar blind on a starry night
Sangkuriang prints - Volcano 1993
1992-3, Collagraph
Collagraph
Night of the piranhas 1995
Oil on canvas
Peter’s fish and crucifixion 1993
Oil on canvas
Page 6
The Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Education Centre
Riversdale c1998
Construction of Artist in residence complex, Bundanon. with Arthur and Yvonne Boyd at Bundanon.
Late February, Arthur arrives at Bun- Barn Studio and Study Centre photo: Greg Weight, 1993
danon. Recent paintings, sculpture and
Arthur returns to Australia intending to attend
etchings held at Australian Galleries,
the opening of the Boyd Education Centre.
Sydney, during June and July. Arthur
In January, Arthur is named Australia Upon arrival in Sydney, Arthur is admitted to
Arthur Boyd painting in his studio at Bundanon 1993 Boyd: Family and Friends, from the Bun-
photo: David Chalker Post’s 1999 Australian Legend and is rep- hospital and suffers a cardiac arrest. Arthur
danon Collection, tours nationally from
resented on a stamp set. In February the partly recovers and the Boyds go on to Mel-
October 1997 to October 1998. Con-
Artist in Residence Complex at Bundanon bourne . Arthur suffers another heart attack
struction of the Boyd Education Centre
Late February, Arthur returns to is opened by Arthur Boyd. The Boyds and passes away on 24 April 1999, aged 78.
commences at Riversdale. The building
England; Arthur Boyd: Sixty years leave Bundanon, Arthur for the last time, A memorial service is held at the National
of the Artist in Residence Complex at
of sleepless nights tours. to return to England. Gallery of Australia in Canberra on 27 May
Bundanon commences.
1999.
1996 1997 1998 1999
The journey 1996
Etching
REFERENCES:
Timeline of Arthur Boyd and Bundanon Trust by David Chalker
Boyd Collection and Bundanon Trust archives
Arthur Boyd- A Life, Darleen Bungey
Bundanon Trust administers the copyright of Arthur Boyd. The majority of the images displayed here are from the Collection and
The Prodigal Son - River 1996
archives of the Bundanon Trust. Permission is given to education groups for the printing and use of this resource for educational
Etching
purposes. Nodding Greenhood painted 1997, dated 1999
Page7
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