Arthur Boyd Essay

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2. Childhood- Upbringing Arthur Boyd was born into one of the most prominent artistic dynasties in Australia. His grandfather and grandmother were both academy artists. Arthur’s father Merric Boyd, was a very successful potter and sculptor amongst his many other artistic siblings. Arthur was born in Melbourne 24 July 1920. He was the eldest of five siblings. He had the ability to be induced in the arts at the beginning of his life as he was in an environment of renowned artists who encouraged the younger generation to do art. ‘Open Country’ was the home of Merric Boyd in which Arthur’s grandmother would tell biblical stories. These biblical stories had a firm stand on Arthur from a young age, forming his good morals; these he kept for a lifetime, …show more content…

Following this Arthur went to his Uncle’s paint factory in Fitzroy. After his grandmother’s death in 1936 Arthur moved to Port Phillip Bay to live with his grandfather, Arthur Merric Boyd. (insert Storm Sky 1933 first painting) 3. Education- Primary/High school Education Arthur attended Murrumbeena State School in which he won the first award for art for three years consecutively. Arthur’s next educational experience after leaving school was at his grandfather’s home. With financial support and encouragement Arthur was able to explore art to his heart’s content. “Boyd regards the time spent with his grandfather as one of his life’s most idyllic periods” (Bowman 2009, p. 42). (Insert school cert. State School 1930’s) 3.1. Tertiary Education For the last term of 1935 and the first two terms of 1936 Arthur Boyd attended the National Gallery of Art of Melbourne. Here he yielded lessons in expressionism, child art, primitivism and the importance of modern masters. At the Gallery Arthur was rubbing shoulders with intellects such as the Jewish immigrant Yosl Bergner, who introduced him to writers that exposed the awareness of social conditions; this had a great influence on …show more content…

From 1976 Arthur divided his time between his studio in Suffolk England and Bundanon. Bundanon was a property which had a profound effect on Arthur’s artwork as he fell in love with the landscape. “Boyd was determined to share the property from the moment he acquired it.”(Bundanon Trust 2016). Arthur wanted painters, musicians, scientists and artists alike to be influenced by the beauty of the place that had an everlasting impression on him. In 1980 Arthur designed and built his studio in Bundanon. He shared his home and studio with many artists and in it he made many works including designing tapestry for the New Parliament House, presented a major gift of many paintings, ceramics and drawings to the National Gallery of Art and the Narcissus series( based on Greek mythology of the hunter whose name was created into the adjective- narcissism)(see appendix blah for full works). Four years after the completion of the Narcissus series Arthur was the sole representative from Australia at the Venice Biennale; here he showcased eight spectacular works.( see appendix blah full Venice Beniele

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