Venus in Arcady – No. 81 of 550 – SOLD

Tiffany’s Research Notes on “Venus in Arcady”:

This facsimile etching released in 1979 is a faithful reproduction of Norman Lindsay’s etching, “Venus in Arcady” which was created by him in 1938.

Original etchings of “Venus in Arcady” are rarely seen or available for sale as many of the relatively small edition of 30 were lost in a tragic train fire in 1940 during a trip that Norman Lindsay’s Rose’s took to America to sell and promote her husband’s work.

Norman Lindsay had a great interest in Greek and Roman mythology and often used stories and themes from mythology in his art. In this detailed work, Lindsay depicts Venus, the Roman goddess of beauty, love and marriage. Believed to have sprung from the foam of the sea, Venus was admired by all for her charm and beauty.

Here in this etching Norman Lindsay depicts the golden-haired Venus in the ideal paradise of Arcadia, surrounded by an admiring band of Satrys, who are also mythological creatures that were half-man, half beast and associated with Bacchus the god of wine. The satrys clamour around Venus enthralled and enraptured, basking in the glow of her prettiness and sensuality.

Lindsay’s amazing ability to depict expressions and emotion is shown readily in “Venus in Arcady” where each figure in the etching has been depicted with an individual personality and distinctive features and gestures, making for an entertaining and humurous piece.

Four working proofs from the metal etching plate of “Venus in Arcady” are held in collection of the Mitchell Library in Sydney.