The Chase
Painting on paper mounted on composition board • Sidney Nolan
Style & Movement
Australian Modernism / Primitivism. Part of the first 'Ned Kelly' series.
Medium & Technique
Enamel paint (Ripolin) on paper. The technique involves fluid, rapid application characteristic of commercial enamel, with a flat, graphic quality and minimal blending of colors.
Creation Period
1946
Dimensions & Format
90.7 x 121.5 cm; Landscape format
Subject Description
A figure representing the outlaw Ned Kelly in his iconic square black armor, riding a red horse across a sun-drenched Australian landscape (the Winton region). In the foreground, a stylized, bearded police officer in a blue uniform and helmet watches the pursuit. The iconography blends historical folk lore with surrealist qualities and high-key color.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent/Very Good. As a museum-quality piece, it shows typical age-related stability of commercial enamel on paper support.
Estimated Market Value
$3,000,000 - $5,000,000 USD (Theoretical, as it is a national treasure)
Auction Estimate
$2,500,000 - $4,500,000 USD
Provenance History
Gift of Sunday Reed, 1977. Part of the core collection at the National Gallery of Australia; originally associated with the Heide circle (John and Sunday Reed).
Art Historical Significance
One of the most significant works in Australian art history. This 1946-47 series redefined Australian identity, merging the European modernist tradition with local bushranger mythology and the harsh aesthetic of the Australian outback.
Notable Features
The use of Ripolin (commercial house paint) provides a unique glossy surface texture. The 'slot' in Kelly's helmet reveals the landscape behind him, a signature Nolan motif symbolizing the outlaw's connection to the land.
Condition Issues
Potential for minor brittleness of the enamel and light yellowing of the paper support consistent with mid-20th-century materials; however, it is professionally conserved.
Conservation Recommendations
Strict UV light control, stable humidity and temperature (20°C and 50% RH), and exhibition behind museum-grade anti-reflective glass.