Lindsay's etchings donated to WA gallery

A private donor has presented the Art Gallery of Western Australia with only complete set of published prints by renowned Australian artist, Norman Lindsay, Culture and Arts Minister Sheila McHale announced today.

The full text of a Ministerial announcement is pasted below

A private donation has ensured the Art Gallery of Western Australia has the only complete set of published prints by renowned Australian artist, Norman Lindsay.

Culture and Arts Minister Sheila McHale said the gifting of 201 unique etchings to the gallery was a significant coup for the State.

"The donation resulted from the success of the Norman Lindsay, Drawn to Women exhibition at the Art Gallery from October 2006 to January 2007," Ms McHale said.

"When the collectors, who wish to remain anonymous, saw the complete set of published etchings on display, they felt the entire set should become the property of the State Art Collection.

"Norman Lindsay was one of Australia's most important artists, whose work is represented in the collection of the National Gallery of Australia, the collections of all State Galleries, as well as numerous other public and private collections."

Ms McHale said Lindsay worked in many art forms throughout his long and prolific career.

"He is most highly regarded for his achievements as an etcher - in particular the set of 200 published etchings made between 1917 and 1938," Ms McHale said.

Ms McHale said the gifting of the works made up the complete set of Lindsay's published etchings and had been compiled originally by Rose Lindsay.

One of the etchings in the set, 'Past the Moon', was issued only in an edition of two impressions. The donors owned both impressions of that etching, and have presented them to the State Art Collection, so no other collector or collection will be able to compile a complete set of the published etchings.

Western Australian Art Gallery Director Alan Dodge said the significance of the donation could not be understated.

"This is a major coup for the Art Gallery of Western Australia and represents, in both value and size, the biggest single gift of works of art ever given to the Gallery," Mr Dodge said.

"It is also the biggest single gift of art from private donors."

The etchings are a private donation from the Norman Lindsay Foundation, organised by Lin Bloomfield.