Core to Sidney Nolan’s legacy is his extraordinary ability to merge myth with modernism. Known for his iconic depictions of the bushranger Ned Kelly, Nolan captured stories of loss, failure, capture, and redemption—drawing equally from Australian history and universal human experience. His vision of Kelly has become emblematic of Australian identity: bold, ambiguous, and haunting.

Nolan’s practice defied categorisation—fluid across medium, subject, and mood—but consistently returned to the figure of the underdog. The scene pictured shows the moment Justice Redmond Barry delivered Ned Kelly’s sentence, infusing the work with both pathos and provocation.

This screenprint is based on an original painting on composition board created with the atypical enamel car paint which would become Nolan’s signature. It belongs to the renowned Kelly series, which Nolan initially left to Sunday Reed before later demanding their return. The eventual compromise saw the series donated to the National Gallery of Australia, where it remains one of the institution’s most celebrated holdings.

The print itself was published by Marlborough Graphics, London, in 1970–71, predating the series donation to the NGA in 1977. It was produced by Kelpra Studios—key figures in the 1960s and ’70s London print scene—whose editions are now held in institutions like the V&A. It’s a fine example of how high-quality prints can offer accessible entry points into major art historical narratives.

Nolan is represented in every major state gallery in Australia, as well as internationally at MoMA in New York and Tate in London. Elegant and enigmatic, this work is a rare opportunity for collectors of important Australian art, especially those drawn to the tension between national myth and modernist experimentation.

Sidney NOLAN (1917 - 1992)
'The Trial'
Screenprint on Paper
Edition of 60
Image Size: 47 x 63 cm
Dimensions: 71 x 65 cm
Signed: Signed 'Nolan' lower right

Comes with Letter of Provenance

Condition: Excellent

(c) Sidney Nolan / Copyright Agency