Five studies - Kelly, figures and rams

The crayon rubbings in this and the following lot, made from the artist's etched plates, the latter dating to his work in Hayter's Atelier 17 in Paris in 1957. For the etchings see for example Sotheby's Melbourne, 16 Sept. 2001 (Nolan The Estate of Sir Sidney Nolan), lots 27 and 61. '... Many years later, after Nolan had studied engraving and other graphic techniques to extend his range of expression, a group of drawings were made in conté pencil in the same manner as rubbings; with all the variations in surface and changes in texture which come from this particular technique. In many of these drawings a man appears holding a ram: a traditional subject which is here extended by the allusions to Bracefell and to Kelly, as well as to the Christ images made by the artist in the early and mid-fifties after visits to Italy and Greece.' (K. Clark, C. MacInnes and B. Robertson, Sidney Nolan, London, 1961, p.88)