Norman Alfred Williams Lindsay - A Chronology

Here you will find a lengthy, if brief chronology on the life of Norman Lindsay. It aims to highlight some of the major events in his life and is by no means a comprehensive account. It will give you an insight to some of the major influences in his life that encompass both his family and artistic achievements.

1879

Born Creswick, Victoria on 22nd February, 1879

 

 

1895

Removed to Melbourne and employed through his brother Lionel as illustrator on the "Hawklet".

 

 

1897

Lived at Charterisville, near Heidelberg, Victoria, with brother Lionel.

 

 

Late 1890's.

Attended life drawing classes in Melbourne organised by George Coates

 

 

1898

Read Nietzsche's "Anti-Christ and Zarathustra".

 

 

1899

Created pen-and-ink drawings for "The Decameron".

 

 

1899

Married Catherine (Kate) Parkinson.

 

 

1900

Son Jack born 28th December.

 

 

1901

Removed to Lavender Bay, Sydney and joined the staff of the "Bulletin".

 

 

1903

Met Rose Soady shortly before the birth of son Raymond in .

 

 

1903

Drew "The Scoffers", pen-and-ink. Purchased by Bernard Hall.

 

 

1904

Drew "Polllice Verso, pen-and-ink.

 

 

1906

Began 100 cone-and-wash illustrations to "Memoirs of Casanova" 1906. Son Philip born 1906.

 

 

1907

First exhibited with Society of Artists. "Pollice Verso" exhibited; purchased by Melbourne Art Gallery for 150 pounds.

 

 

1909

First wife, Catherine (Kate) leaves Norman
   

1909

To Europe. Rose followed later. In Naples began 100 pen-and-ink illustrations for Petronius" Satyricon" Visits to South Kensington Museum stimulated interest in ship models; made sketches of models in the Museum's collection.

 

 

1910

Published Petronius "Satyricon".

 

 

1911

Returned to Australia.

 

 

1912

Published "Norman Lindsay Book 1".

 

 

1912

Drew "Crucified Venus", pen-and-ink

 

 

1912

Settled with Rose in Artarmon for six months. Stricken with pleurisy he completed a ship model of Cook's "Endeavour" which was later purchased by the National Gallery of Victoria. Worked on models during convalescence. Moved to Leura for six months and then to a house near Faulconbridge, "Everton". Painted about 8 oil paintings 'in the glaze method' at Harley Griffith's suggestion.

 

 

1912

Rose purchased house at Springwood from Francis Foy in late. Built lower studio at the Springwood house. "Three Women" oil, first painting to be done in the
studio.

 

 

1913

Published "A curate in Bohemia".

 

 

1914-16

Constructed model of a section of Medieval Paris as a background for illustrations to "Villon".

 

 

1914-16

Built "the dam" at Springwood c. .

 

 

1915

Published "Norman Lindsay Book 1" .

 

 

1918

Divorced by Kate.

 

 

1918

"Published The Magic Pudding". "Art in Australia".

 

 

1918

Published "The Pen Drawings of Norman
Lindsay"

 

 

1919

Leon Gellert published "The Isle of San: A Phantasy". Contains the first five of Lindsay's etchings to be used as book illustrations.

 

 

1919

Held first one-man show of etchings in Sydney and Melbourne.

 

 

1918-20

Built second studio at Springwood. Old studio thenceforth used for etchings.

 

 

1920

Created first outdoor sculpture before 1920: Satyr pursuing nymph. Naiad on edge of pool. Girl with hands behind head.

 

 

1920

Married Rose.

 

 

1920

Daughter Jane born.

 

 

1920

Created "Idyllia", series of 12 etchings.

 

 

1920-23

Drew "The Garden of Happiness", 20 pen-and-ink drawings.

 

 

1921

Became member of the Australian Painter-Etchers Society.

 

 

1922

Daughter Helen born.

 

 

1923

Represented in Society of Artists exhibition Australian art in London. Work attacked by Sir William Orpen.

 

 

1924

Published "Creative Effort". Published "Pen Drawings" 1924.

 

 

1926

Published editions of Aristophanes "Lysistrata", illustrated with pen drawings, Fanfrolico Press.

 

 

1928

Published "A Homage to Sappho" illustrated with etchings, Fanfrolico Press.

 

 

1929

Published "Madam Life's Lovers", Fanfrolico Press, London.

 

 

1930

Published "Redheap" London, Banned by Australian Customs.

 

 

1930

Illustrations in special Norman Lindsay issue of "Art in Australia" created furore December.

 

 

1931

To New York with Rose. "Art in Australia" published "Norman Lindsay's Pen Drawings".

 

 

1932

To London January,; returned to Australia March, 1932. Published "Saturdee". Published "Miracles by Arrangement".

 

 

1933

Published "Pan in the Parlour".

 

 

1934

Published "the Cautious Amorist". Banned by Australian Customs.

 

 

1934

Began to paint in oils at studio at 12 Bridge St., Sydney. Lived mostly in Sydney until Rose's trip to America in 1939.

 

 

1935

Published "Age of Consent". Story relates to his discovery of oil as a medium Banned by Australian Customs.

 

 

1936

Published "Flyaway Highway".

 

 

1937

Kenneth MacKenzie published "Our Earth". Lindsay etching is frontispiece; his last etching used as a book illustration. Held probably last one-man show of etchings 1937.

 

 

1939

Rose went to the United States. Many works destroyed in train fire.

 

 

1945

Published "Paintings in Oil" 1945. Created seahorse fountain c.1945. Published "The Cousin from Fiji".

 

 

1947

Published "Half Way to Anywhere".

 

 

1949

Daughter Jane acquired etching studio and built house around it.

 

 

1950

Published "Dust and Polish".

 

 

1956

Gave up the lease on Bridge Street studio.

 

 

1958

Son Philip died.

 

 

1960

Son Raymond died Sydney.

 

 

1966

Published "Norman Lindsay's Ship Models". "The Greek Galley", his last model, created especially for this book.

 

 

1968

Built reclining woman fountain at Springwood, his last sculpture and his only work in cast cement.

 

 

1969

Donated collection of work to the University of Melbourne School of Architecture January.

 

 

1969

Published "Norman Lindsay Watercolours".

 

 

1969

Norman Lindsay died Springwood 21st November, 1969.

 

 

1970

"My Mask" published.