Peter Bellew Editor (3 results)

102pp. 4to. Original cloth in defective dustwrapper, no loss of text. Black and white photographic plates. Decorative endpapers. Light foxing to edges and small sticker on front pastedown. Water damage to all pages. A good reading copy.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. 2nd Edition. 102 pages. B/w photography. Covers a little worn and faded. Binding tight and straight. Internally clean. An average copy.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Sydney, 'Sydney Morning Herald', 1941 and 1942. Large quarto, 84 to 88 pages each issue, extensively illustrated in colour and black and white; bound-in in the first number is a small two-part perforated order-gift subscription form. Binder's cloth retaining the original colour-pictorial card covers (with the rear cover now bound in immediately after the front cover in each case); cloth a little flecked; edges a little foxed; endpapers discoloured; light foxing to a few leaves adjacent to the boards; in excellent condition. The fourth and final series of 'Art in Australia' comprised only six quarterly numbers between March 1941 and August 1942. They were a marked departure in all respects from the previous 94 numbers of the journal, which commenced publication in 1916: new editor, new format, new emphasis on international art. The editorial in the first issue spells this out succinctly: there will be 'a complete change in appearance and methods of production with a broadening of policy. In the past "Art in Australia" has been almost entirely devoted to the painting, sculpture and architecture of this country. Luxurious productions from France, England and other countries were available to inform the artist, student and art-lover of the work and activities of the art world outside. But the barbarity unleashed in Europe is destroying much of the art of the past and present and has made it impossible for periodicals we prized so much to continue production. The countries of their origin have fallen under Hitler's yoke, men responsible for their production - artists and writers - killed, art galleries and elaborate printing and processing plants, blown to bits. But Art cannot die, and we in Australia can and will carry on our efforts to preserve, encourage and foster the culture our enemies would destroy. In spite of paper shortages and many other difficulties "Art in Australia" will play its widened part by presenting the art of all countries, all periods and all schools'. Peter Bellew modelled its visual excellence and intellectual content on 'Verve', and 'under his stewardship, the art historian and director of London's National Gallery, Sir Kenneth Clark, declared it "unquestionably the best art magazine being published today anywhere in the world"' (Harding and Morgan: 'Modern Love - The Lives of John and Sunday Reed', 2015). Notwithstanding, the end came without warning: Series 4, Number 6, August 1942, the last one published, with a strong (and parochial) editorial about the 'Need for War Artists', contained no hint of its fate.