The Diaries of Fred Williams 1963-1970 by Patrick McCaughey

A generous and insightful glimpse into the private life and creative process of a giant of Australian landscape painting

Fred Williams kept a daily diary from 1963 until his death in 1982. Disciplined and meticulous, he recorded life in the studio, family life and his contact with artists, dealers and the art world-a page per day. At the beginning and end of each year, Williams would reflect on his progress, noting the ups and downs and plan for the coming year.

The diaries contain studied reflections on his own art and offer an intimate picture of a major Australian artist at work. He maps out his work-small representations of what will become notable and important artworks-and makes comments about his contemporaries, with the occasional sharp judgement and snatch of art-world gossip, all notably without malice.

The 1960s were crucial years for Williams. He moved from being a well-regarded painter to becoming a major Australian artist. Colour reproductions of his extraordinary paintings reveal their evolution and the struggles behind their making in his studio. The Diaries of Fred Williams is a generous and insightful glimpse into the private life and creative process of a giant of Australian landscape painting.

About the Author: Patrick McCaughey was director of the National Gallery of Victoria between 1981 and 1987 and spent the northern academic year 1986-87 as visiting professor of Australian Studies at Harvard University. Between 1988 and 2001 he was director of the Wadsworth Atheneum and the Yale Center for British Art. He directed the Festival of Ideas at the University of Melbourne 2009-11 and holds an LLD (Honoris Causae) from the University of Melbourne. He has published widely on Australian, American and European Art and is a particular champion of Charles Blackman, Leonard French, Roger Kemp, John Brack and Fred Williams.

05 Nov 2024

The Diaries of Fred Williams 1963-1970 by Patrick McCaughey ISBN 9780522871203