Robert Johnson - papers, 1915-1964, together with papers collected by Heather May Roy, 1984-1990

MLMSS 6278

fonds

1915-1964, 1984-1990

Textual Records, Clippings, Photographs

69991

0.18 metres of textual material, includes photographs and clippings (1 box)

Robert Johnson, landscape artist, was born in 1890 in Auckland, New Zealand where he later trained at the Elam School of Art. He served with the NZ armed forces during World War 1 and in 1921 settled in Sydney. A prolific oil painter of impressionist landscapes, he made regular painting tours in Australia and sold his work through galleries in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Johnson married Olive Phillipson in 1920 and they had two children, Brian Robert and Heather May; he died in Sydney in 1964.

1920-1963; Records kept by Johnson, mainly in exercise books, of paintings sold; details include : a thumbnail sketch of each painting, the location where it was painted, its title and size, the price paid for it, and sometimes the name of the buyer; there are separate records for each gallery through which he sold his work
1959-1964; Letters received mainly from gallery owners
1915-1963; Scrapbooks : photocopies of the contents of 2 scrapbooks compiled by Robert Johnson, mainly newscuttings; vol.1, 1915-1940; vol.2, ca1937-1963
1938-1964; Reproductions and printed material : including b&w photographs of paintings; reproductions on greeting cards; issue of 'La revue moderne' Paris, March 1938; 'Australian art souvenir part 2 : seven facsimile reproductions in colour by foremost Australian artists', Sydney : Legend Press, n.d.; catalogue of an exhibition held at Artlovers Gallery, Artarmon, 'The Art of Robert Johnson : memorial loan collection, November 1964'
1984-1990; Letters received by Heather Roy and Jean Campbell in reply to inquiries re Robert Johnson; together with some miscellaneous research material