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'Colin Colahan was an Australian painter of outstanding ability and reputation who from the 1920s to the 1970s was remarkably productive.
'Colahan was one of the more brilliant pupils of the painter Max Meldrum. Identification with the unfashionable 'Meldrumites' is one explanation for Colahan's disappearance from the public gaze. The other has murkier origins in the still unsolved murder of his girlfriend, Mollie Dean, in 1930. There was nothing of substance to link Colahan to the brutal murder, but fevered public speculation cast a depressing shadow for many years and helped propel him to Europe in 1935. There he stayed for the rest of his long life.
'The story of Colahan's personal life is tantalising in itself—three marriages, five children, numerous lovers, beautiful houses in England and Italy, portrait painter of the rich and famous. It was an urbane life. He was a witty, charming, talented man. This intimate, engaging portrait is indeed most welcome, and will restore Colahan's life and work to its rightful place in the history of Australian art.'
Source: Publisher's blurb.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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John Thompson, the Poet as Broadcaster
2011
single work
criticism
— Appears in: JASAL , vol. 11 no. 2 2011; 'John Thompson (1907-1968) was once an influential figure in Australian literature, not only as a poet but also as a broadcaster and editor, but is now generally overlooked if not forgotten. This essay re-evaluates Thompson's career along with his poetry through his experience as a radio producer, examining his changing sense of the radiophonic possibilities of verse. It pays particular attention to the ABC's flagship poetry programme, Quality Street, which Thompson created and which lasted a remarkable twenty-seven years (1946-1973). Given that there have been conflicts from the ABC's inception between its twin roles as public educator and publicly-funded entertainer, the longevity of Quality Street suggests that Thompson managed to strike a workable balance within the broad spectrum of the 'middlebrow', which is a key term throughout. The essay concludes by considering the wider implications of this.' (Author's abstract)
-
John Thompson, the Poet as Broadcaster
2011
single work
criticism
— Appears in: JASAL , vol. 11 no. 2 2011; 'John Thompson (1907-1968) was once an influential figure in Australian literature, not only as a poet but also as a broadcaster and editor, but is now generally overlooked if not forgotten. This essay re-evaluates Thompson's career along with his poetry through his experience as a radio producer, examining his changing sense of the radiophonic possibilities of verse. It pays particular attention to the ABC's flagship poetry programme, Quality Street, which Thompson created and which lasted a remarkable twenty-seven years (1946-1973). Given that there have been conflicts from the ABC's inception between its twin roles as public educator and publicly-funded entertainer, the longevity of Quality Street suggests that Thompson managed to strike a workable balance within the broad spectrum of the 'middlebrow', which is a key term throughout. The essay concludes by considering the wider implications of this.' (Author's abstract)
