Lionel Lindsay was the brother of Norman, Percy, Daryl and Ruby Lindsay and shared with his siblings an early obsession with drawing and printmaking. A contributor to the great era of Australian 'black & white' art that developed around the turn of the twentieth century, he created illustrations for publications such as the Bulletin. Writer Henry Lawson (1867–1922) became a regular contributor to the Bulletin in the 1890s, and Lindsay would encounter him frequently in pubs around the Bulletin office, in bookshops, and on the ferry. He drew Lawson often. 'He was a splendid sitter,' Lindsay wrote, 'and seemed rather to like putting in time this way. But I have no recollections of our conversation; though I remember his excitement about an illustration I had made for one of his stories. He swore I must have seen the character drawn as it was his breathing image. I told him that his description was so good that I couldn't have missed him. But he remained unconvinced.'
Purchased 2010
© National Library of Australia
The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the
Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a
Reproduction request. For further information please contact
NPG Copyright.