This is the first biography of Australian artist Lionel Lindsay (1874-1961). It also provides a portrait of an extraordinary family, especially Lionel's artist brother Norman. Lionel is considered one of Australia's leading artists and his etchings, wood engravings and watercolours hang in galleries across the world. He was also a man of letters, but for most of his life he was overshadowed by his brother, Norman, considered the most popular artist and writer of his generation. The stormy relationship of the two brothers forms the heart of this biography, which follows Lionel's fortunes from the small gold-mining town of Creswick, to Melbourne in the 1890s and his journeys to Spain, England and Italy.

It was not until years later at the age of 52 that he achieved fame in his home country and was knighted by Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies, a close personal friend. The work is based on original research, newly discovered letters and documents and is illustrated with photographs and reproductions of Lindsay's major works. Joanna Mendelssohn is author of "The Life and Work of Sydney Long" (1980), "The Art of Sir Lionel Lindsay: The Woodcuts" (1982) and "The Etchings" (1987).
Bibliography: p. 247-249.