Elena Rossi
The Ned Kelly series by Sidney Nolan is a collection of 27 paintings that depict the story of the nineteenth-century bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang of outlaws. The series, created between 1946 and 1947, showcases a blend of biography and autobiography, with the narrative taking viewers through significant events in Kelly's life, including his encounters with the police and his trial. Nolan's unique artistic style, inspired by children's art and modernist paintings, is characterised by a simplified depiction of Kelly in his homemade armour, set against the Australian landscape. The series has gained recognition as one of the greatest sequences of Australian paintings of the 20th century.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of paintings in the series | 27 |
| Artist | Sidney Nolan |
| Subject | Ned Kelly |
| Year of creation | 1946-1947 |
| Style | Simplified, naive execution, rich colour and simple forms |
| Themes | Autobiography, biography, Australian history, landscape, universal themes of injustice, love, betrayal, and nationalism |
| Inspiration | Kelly's own words, Rousseau, sunlight, children's art, modernist paintings, European modern art, and personal experiences |
| Notable paintings | Ned Kelly, three Stringybark Creek pictures, Margaret Kelly sewing soft blue cloth, Death of Constable Scanlon, Steve Hart in a dress |
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What You'll Learn
Sidney Nolan's inspiration for the series
Sidney Nolan's Ned Kelly series is considered one of the greatest sequences of Australian paintings of the 20th century. The series consists of 26 to 27 paintings created between 1946 and 1947, with a second series created in the mid-1950s. The series depicts the story of Ned Kelly, the 19th-century bushranger and outlaw, and his gang of outlaws.
Nolan's inspiration for the series came from a variety of sources, including Kelly's own words, the Australian landscape, and European modern art. Nolan was fascinated by Kelly's words, particularly the 'Jerilderie Letter', a quasi-political and quasi-personal recital of grievance that blended poetry and political engagement. The artist also had a personal connection to the story, as he himself was a fugitive from the law after going absent without leave from the army in 1944 to avoid being sent to front-line duty in Papua New Guinea. He adopted the alias "Robin Murray", a name suggested by his friend Sunday Reed, who called him "Robin Redbreast".
The Australian landscape also played a crucial role in the series, with Nolan wanting to capture the story of Kelly arising out of the bush and ending in the bush. He wanted to express the desire to paint the landscape and hear the stories that took place within it, which persist in the memory and find expression in household sayings. Nolan's paintings often featured a different landscape, showcasing the beauty of Australia and giving insight into its history.
Nolan was also inspired by children's art and modernist paintings of the early 20th century, experimenting with various styles and techniques throughout his career. He was influenced by the work of Henri Rousseau, as well as the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and incorporated rich colours and simple forms into his work.
The series also weaves biography and autobiography together, with Nolan reflecting on the circumstances of his own life and the potential for an individual to change the world. The paintings originally reflected a world of violence, although Nolan later remarked that they no longer appeared particularly violent to him.
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The series' iconic status in Australian art
The Ned Kelly series by Sidney Nolan is considered one of the greatest sequences of Australian paintings of the 20th century. The series consists of 26 to 27 paintings created between 1946 and 1947 that depict the life of the 19th-century bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang of outlaws. The series is known for its blend of biography and autobiography, taking viewers through the main events of Kelly's life, including his violent encounters with the police and his trial, which ended in a death sentence.
Nolan's unique style and experimental approach to the series contributed to its iconic status. He did not intend to create an authentic depiction of Kelly's life but rather used the story as a setting to explore universal themes such as injustice, love, and betrayal. Nolan's simplified and symbolic portrayal of Kelly in his homemade armour, often shown atop a horse, has become a shared iconography of Australia. The artist's use of rich colours and simple forms, inspired by modernist paintings and children's art, creates a punchy impact throughout the series.
The Australian landscape also plays a crucial role in the Ned Kelly series. Nolan wanted to paint the landscape and bring to life the stories that took place within it. He wrote, "I find the desire to paint the landscape involves a wish to hear more of the stories that take place in the landscape... which persist in the memory, to find expression in such household sayings as 'game as Ned Kelly'." The landscape is not just a backdrop but a vital participant in the narrative, giving meaning to the places associated with Kelly's story.
The series' engagement with Australian history, landscape, and European modern art has cemented its iconic status in Australian art. The paintings were exhibited internationally, including at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Musée National d'Art Moderne in Paris, where they were praised by critics and recognised as a significant contribution to modern art. Nolan's Ned Kelly series has become synonymous with the artist himself, and it remains one of the most well-known depictions of the notorious Australian bushranger and outlaw in the art world.
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The series' blend of biography and autobiography
The Ned Kelly Series by Sidney Nolan is a collection of 26 to 27 paintings of the nineteenth-century bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang of outlaws. The series was created between 1946 and 1947 and is considered one of the greatest sequences of Australian paintings of the 20th century. Nolan's simplified depiction of Kelly in homemade armour, atop a horse, has become an iconic Australian image.
The series blends biography and autobiography, with the narrative strongly present. It begins with a scene-setting painting of an empty landscape lit by eerie light from the horizon. The paintings then take us through the major events of Ned Kelly's story, including the shooting of police constables at Stringybark Creek, the ensuing police chase, the activities of police spy Aaron Sherritt, the siege of the hotel at Glenrowan, and the trial that ended in a hanging sentence for Ned Kelly.
Nolan's own experiences as a fugitive from the law after going absent without leave from the army in 1944 add an autobiographical dimension to the series. He adopted the alias Robin Murray and saw himself as a misunderstood protector, much like how Kelly was perceived. This personal connection to the subject matter is evident in Nolan's portrayal of Kelly as a dramatic persona on the run from the police.
The landscape also plays a crucial role in the series, with Nolan insisting that the paintings were more than just illustrations of Australia's famous bushranging story. He wanted to capture the stories that took place within the landscape and give meaning to the place. This blend of biography and autobiography, along with Nolan's unique style, has made the Ned Kelly series a significant and iconic contribution to Australian art and culture.
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The series' exploration of universal themes
The Ned Kelly Series by Sidney Nolan is a collection of 27 paintings created between 1946 and 1947. The series explores the life and times of the nineteenth-century Australian bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang of outlaws. While the series narrates Kelly's biography, it also intertwines autobiographical elements from Nolan's life.
The series is renowned for its exploration of universal themes, which elevate the narrative beyond a mere retelling of historical events. One of the predominant themes is that of injustice. Kelly's story, as a fugitive and outlaw, inherently carries themes of injustice, as he is portrayed as a figure resisting tyranny and fighting for freedom. This theme is particularly salient given the historical context of the Depression and World War II, which Nolan intentionally chose not to depict. Instead, he focused on creating episodes of Australian nationalism and retelling the story of a hero.
Another theme that emerges in the series is that of love. Notably, one painting in the series portrays Kelly's sister, Margaret, sewing soft blue cloth into the interior of her brother's homemade armour. Nolan described Margaret's action as one of "tenderness and love," as she attempts to protect her brother. This theme of familial love adds a layer of depth to the narrative, showcasing the human connections that exist within the larger-than-life story of Ned Kelly.
Betrayal is also a significant theme explored in the series. The narrative includes the activities of Aaron Sherritt, a police spy, and the betrayal of Mr. Sherritt, a former member of the Kelly gang who turned police informant. The inclusion of these characters and their actions adds complexity to the story, highlighting the blurring of boundaries and the breakdown of trust that occurs within the gang and the police.
Nolan's personal connection to the themes of the series is also worth noting. Having been a fugitive from the law himself, Nolan viewed Kelly as a metaphor for his own experiences. He saw Kelly as a "pre-Camusian outsider," a figure of self-sufficiency and rebellion. This interpretation adds a layer of depth to the series, suggesting that the exploration of universal themes was influenced by Nolan's own life and perspective.
Through its exploration of injustice, love, betrayal, and the complexities of human nature, the Ned Kelly Series by Sidney Nolan transcends the specific historical narrative and speaks to broader, timeless ideas that continue to resonate with viewers.
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The series' depiction of the Kelly gang
The Ned Kelly series by Sidney Nolan is a collection of 26 to 27 paintings of the nineteenth-century bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang of outlaws, created between 1946 and 1947. The series is considered one of the greatest sequences of Australian paintings of the 20th century and showcases Nolan's unique style and experimentation with rich colours and simple forms.
The narrative of the series begins with a painting that sets the scene, depicting an empty landscape illuminated by an eerie light on the horizon. This is followed by a portrayal of the shooting of police constables at Stringybark Creek, where Constable Scanlon is shown being thrown wildly into the air while his horse is rattled. The ensuing police chase is also captured in the series, along with the activities of the police spy Aaron Sherrit and the siege of the hotel at Glenrowan. One of the most iconic images from the series is that of Steve Hart, a member of the Kelly gang, wearing a floral-patterned dress over his shirt and tie, riding side-saddle.
Nolan's depiction of Kelly's sister, Margaret, sewing soft blue cloth into the interior of her brother's homemade armour, is another notable work from the series. This painting brings together two key aspects of the series: Kelly as a dramatic figure on the run from the police and the ambient landscape as a vital participant. Nolan's simplified portrayal of Kelly in his armour, with a slotted black square atop a horse, has become an iconic Australian image.
The series also includes a painting of Kelly on top of a horse, exuding "perfect authority", as described by Nolan himself. This image captures the defiant nature of Kelly's character. The sequence of the Kelly works is not fixed, but art historian Andrew Sayers suggests that the death of Constable Scanlon is the first major point of action. The series concludes with the trial of Ned Kelly, which ended in a sentence of hanging.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 27 paintings in Sidney Nolan's Ned Kelly series.
Ned Kelly was a 19th-century bushranger and outlaw, whose story has become the stuff of Australian legend.
The series follows the main sequence of the Kelly story, including the shooting of police constables, the ensuing police chase, the siege of the hotel at Glenrowan, and the trial which ended in a sentence of hanging for Ned Kelly. Nolan used the series to meditate on universal themes of injustice, love, and betrayal.
The original Ned Kelly paintings are housed at the National Gallery of Australia.
