• Title
  The Jack Johnson and Tommy Burns fight, 1908 / by Norman Lindsay
• Creator
  Norman Lindsay, 1879-1969
• Call number
  V/158
  
• Level of description
  fonds
• Date
  
  1908
• Type of material
  Graphic Materials
• Reference code
  839836
• Issue Copy
  Digitised
• Physical Description
  1 drawing - watercolour and pencil on paper - 38 x 26 cm
  
• ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  On 26 December 1908, a record crowd of over 60,000 gathered at the newly opened Sydney stadium at Rushcutters Bay to watch the boxing match between African American, Jack Johnson, and and French Canadian, Tommy Burns. The fight made history in sport and in global race relations. While black competitors were recognised in boxing, they were barred from participating in the heavyweight championship of the world.
  In 1908 Burns was heavyweight champion of the world but he had never competed against Johnson. Australian promoter Hugh MacIntosh convinced Burns to fight Johnson in Sydney. MacIntosh was referee for the match.
  In Sydney Burns trained at his base in Darling Point, and Johnson in Manly. Johnson dominated what was intended to be a 20 round fight but was stopped by police in the 14th round because of the beating Burns received.
  Johnson, the only African American permitted to fight for the heavyweight world title, had won a resounding victory, for himself and black sportpeople. His victory inspired as many as it angered. Johnson remained world champion until 1916.
  Norman Lindsay was persuaded by his friend Hugh MacIntosh to produce this promotional watercolour for the front cover of The Lone Hand magazine which portrays Johnson's physical dominance over the smaller Burns.
  Lindsay later roughed out the date on the watercolour and inscribed it to his friend MacIntosh.
  
  Reference:
  Heritage Gallery Guide, State Library of NSW, 2008, p. 24
• Collection history
  Hugh MacIntosh, Sydney; thence to private collection, Canberra until 1978; thence to private collection, Sydney; Trevor Bussell Fine Art Gallery, Sydney; thence to private collection, Sydney.
• Copying Conditions
  Copyright status:: In copyright - Life of artist plus 70 years
  Copyright holder:: H, C, and A Glad
  Approval for reproduction required:
  Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy H, C, & A. Glad
• General note
  
  The Library holds a pen and ink drawing of Jack Johnson, probably drawn for The Bulletin, of Johnson being driven in a car past a group of three Aborigines on the side of the road
  Digital order no:a1528552
• Signatures / Inscriptions
  
  Signed and inscribed, lower left: `To Hugh D. Macintosh with kind regards N.L.'
• Name
  Johnson, Jack, 1878-1946
  Burns, Tommy
  
• Subject
  Artists--New South Wales--Sydney.
  Art, Australian--20th century.
  Boxing--Australia.
  Sports--History.
  Australia--Race relations.
  
• Topic
  boxers
  boxing (sports)
  boxing gloves
  boxing rings
  
• Place
  Sydney Stadium (Rushcutters Bay, N.S.W.)
  
• Exhibited in
  
  Nelson Meers Foundation Heritage Collection - State Library of New South Wales (17 December 2008 - 30 April 2009)
• Open Rosetta viewer
  IE642905

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