Charles Nuttall
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Charles Nuttall (born James Charles Nuttall; 6 September 1872 – 28 November 1934) was a prolific Australian artist, writer and radio broadcaster. He spent much of his working life in
Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
, apart from a period in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
from 1905 to 1910. Nuttall became widely known as an artist for his large-scale painting of the opening of the first Australian parliament in 1901. His painting, completed in June 1902, was notable for the large number of identifiable portraits of the dignitaries present at the ceremony. Framed prints of the painting were marketed as patriotic adornments suitable for public buildings, schools, places of business and private homes. During the next few years Nuttall produced book illustrations, political cartoons and began a life-long association as a writer and artist for the Australian edition of ''
Life Life, also known as biota, refers to matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes. It is defined descriptively by the capacity for homeostasis, Structure#Biological, organisation, met ...
'' magazine. In 1905 Nuttall travelled to the United States and established himself in New York City, He was employed by the ''
New York Herald The ''New York Herald'' was a large-distribution newspaper based in New York City that existed between 1835 and 1924. At that point it was acquired by its smaller rival the '' New-York Tribune'' to form the '' New York Herald Tribune''. Hi ...
'' to draw the '
Buster Brown Buster Brown is a comic strip character created in 1902 by Richard F. Outcault that was adopted as the mascot of the Brown Shoe Company in 1904. The characters of Buster Brown, Mary Jane, and his dog Tige became well known to the American publ ...
' comic strip and had his cartoons and illustrations published in a variety of illustrated magazines. He was employed as a book illustrator for the
Stratemeyer Syndicate The Stratemeyer Syndicate was an American publishing company that produced a number of mystery book series for children, including Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, the various Tom Swift series, the Bobbsey Twins, the Rover Boys, and others. It pu ...
company which produced fiction for children. Nuttall illustrated an estimated 64 different titles over a period of about three years for the company. Nuttall returned to Australia in 1910 and established a studio in Melbourne, where he produced cartoons, book illustrations and taught drawing classes. He was employed as a cartoonist for Melbourne's '' Punch'' from 1913 to 1918. In 1926 he began a career as a radio broadcaster, delivering talks on a wide-range of subjects.


Biography


Early years

James Charles Nuttall was born on 6 September 1872 in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, the eldest born and only son of James Charles Nuttall and Caroline (''née'' Dean). His English-born father was a house-painter and decorator.Family records, Ancestry.com.
Joan Kerr Joan Kerr (1938–2004) was an Australian academic and cultural preservationist. Initially her interest was sparked in preserving the architectural heritage of Australia, but over time her interests spread to art history and Australian culture ...
(1996)
Charles Nuttall
''Design and Art Australia Online'' website; retrieved 2 May 2024.
After leaving school Nuttall probably spent a number of years working for his father. His parents encouraged their son to pursue an artistic career and in 1895 Charles Nuttall enrolled in the
Art School An art school is an educational institution with a primary focus on practice and related theory in the visual arts and design. This includes fine art – especially illustration, painting, contemporary art, sculpture, and graphic design. T ...
conducted at the
National Gallery of Victoria The National Gallery of Victoria, popularly known as the NGV, is an art museum in Melbourne, Victoria (state), Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1861, it is Australia's oldest and list of most visited art museums in the world, most visited art mu ...
in Melbourne.Sheridan Palmer (2005)
James Charles Nuttall (1872–1934)
''Australian Dictionary of Biography'' website, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 27 April 2024.
The drawing classes were held under the instruction of
Frederick McCubbin Frederick McCubbin (25 February 1855 – 20 December 1917) was an Australian artist, art teacher and prominent member of the Heidelberg School art movement, also known as Australian impressionism. Born and raised in Melbourne, Victoria, McCubb ...
and under his guidance Nuttall developed a confident linear style of illustration. Constrained by colour blindness, Nuttall focussed on black and white and monochrome work.


The Melbourne arts community

Nuttall joined the Victorian Artists' Society in 1896, where he was an occasional exhibitor. At the Society's annual meeting in November 1901 he was elected as a member of council. Nuttall was a prominent member of Melbourne's
bohemian Bohemian or Bohemians may refer to: *Anything of or relating to Bohemia Culture and arts * Bohemianism, an unconventional lifestyle, originally practised by 19th–20th century European and American artists and writers. * Bohemian style, a ...
community of writers, artists and poets. He belonged to the
Melbourne Savage Club Melbourne Savage Club is a private Australian gentlemen's club founded in 1894 and named after the poet, Richard Savage. Bohemian in spirit, the club was to bring together literary men, and those immediately connected or sympathising with lit ...
, a private
social club A social club or social organization may be a group of people or the place where they meet, generally formed around a common interest, occupation or activity with in an organizational association known as a Club (organization), club. Exampl ...
with a bohemian spirit. In 1898 and 1899 Nuttall conducted drawing classes at the Collingwood School of Art held in the Collingwood Town Hall. Nuttall was an early member of the Melbourne Black and White Club which formed in 1900. A number of Nuttall's "spirited chalk-drawings" (described as being "admirable as rapid studies") were included in the club's first exhibition held in July 1900 at their rooms at 62 Elizabeth Street. In December 1900 Nuttall gave a lecture at the Black and White Club discussing 'What is Art?', attended by about forty people. After the lecture the architect and artist Robert J. Haddon remarked that "it was only a very young man who would attempt to lecture on the great question upon which older artists hesitate to give an opinion"; Haddon added that he "he admired his pluck, and enjoyed the lecture, which, after all, was the chief thing". Nuttall served as secretary of the Black and White Club. About a year the club's formation it was affiliated with the
Victorian Artists' Society The Victorian Artists Society, which can trace its establishment to 1856 in Melbourne, promotes artistic education, art classes and Art museum, gallery hire art gallery, exhibition in Australia. It was formed in March 1888 when the Victorian Acad ...
. From about September 1901 cartoons by Nuttall were occasionally published in '' The Bulletin'' magazine, based in Sydney.


The opening of parliament painting

After
Federation A federation (also called a federal state) is an entity characterized by a political union, union of partially federated state, self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a #Federal governments, federal government (federalism) ...
the first
Australian parliament The Parliament of Australia (officially the Parliament of the Commonwealth and also known as the Federal Parliament) is the federal legislature of Australia. It consists of three elements: the Monarchy of Australia, monarch of Australia (repr ...
was opened on 9 May 1901 by Prince George, the Duke of Cornwall and York, in a ceremony held in the western annexe of the
Royal Exhibition Building The Royal Exhibition Building is a World Heritage Site, UNESCO World Heritage-listed building in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, built in 1879–1880 as part of the international exhibition movement, which presented over 50 exhibitions between ...
in Melbourne. Charles Nuttall was commissioned by the Commonwealth Publishing Company Ltd. (described as "a little band of patriotic citizens") to paint a picture of the historic event.The first picture of the opening...
''Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser'', 28 June 1902, page 1614.
The artist began work on the painting in oils in August 1901, in a studio within the Exhibition Building on a canvas measuring 12 by 8 feet (3.65 by 2.4 metres). Nuttall was asked to include as many recognisable faces as possible in his painting, for which purpose he arranged sittings with some of the attendees in order to sketch their features in preparatory drawings.Item SH 961775
''Museums Victoria Collections'' website, Museums Victoria; accessed 6 May 2024.
In October 1901 the artist was granted sittings at Government House in Melbourne to capture portraits of John Hope, the Earl of Hopetoun and Australia's first Governor-General, as well as his wife the Countess of Hopetoun, Major-General Downes and Captain Wellington (the Governor-General's private secretary). Nuttall was required to travel to other states to complete some of his preparatory drawings. In early February 1902 he travelled by steamer to Adelaide to complete sketches of the
Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...
and other "prominent" South Australians who had attended the parliamentary opening. Nuttall's large monochromatic sepia-toned painting depicting the opening of parliament was unveiled in June 1902. The painting included a total of 343 identifiable portraits of the dignitaries present at the historic ceremony. The writer for the ''Table Talk'' weekly newspaper at the unveiling was candid about the painting's artistic merits, commenting that Nuttall had "not attempted to make his work beautiful... his work was purely commercial". The writer added: "Every politician had to be placed in as prominent a position as possible, for no politician would allow his brilliant personality to be sacrificed for aesthetic truth". The article concluded: "From the artistic point, it is hardly fair to judge Mr. Nuttall's work at all, but the painter may be congratulated on having produced a picture that has been conscientiously treated, and that, we hope, will have considerable commercial value". After its completion the painting was sent to Paris to be reproduced by a
photogravure Photogravure (in French ''héliogravure'') is a process for printing photographs, also sometimes used for reproductive intaglio printmaking. It is a photo-mechanical process whereby a copper plate is grained (adding a pattern to the plate) and ...
process by the art dealership of
Goupil & Cie Goupil & Cie is an international auction house and merchant of contemporary art and collectibles. Jean-Baptiste Adophe Goupil founded Goupil & Cie in 1850. Goupil & Cie became a leading art dealership in 19th-century France, with its headquart ...
, internationally known for their fine art reproductions. By March 1903 the painting had been shipped to London where photogravure prints were produced by the fine art publisher, James Greves of New Bridge Street. The painting was sent to Buckingham Palace to be inspected by
King Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria and ...
, after which it was exhibited at McLean's Gallery in the Haymarket. In August 1902 a publication called ''Representative Australians: A Series of Portraits from Original Sketches'' was issued by McCarron, Bird & Co. of Melbourne, presenting a portfolio of reproductions of forty of Nuttall's portraits rendered in preparation for his painting of the parliament opening ceremony.Australian Portraits
''Australian Star'' (Sydney), 1 September 1902, page 3.
An entity called the Historical Picture Association of Australia, under the management of Abraham S. Gordon, obtained the sole rights to sell and distribute reproductions of Nuttall's painting. Framed prints were marketed as patriotic adornments suitable for public buildings, schools, places of business and private homes. Prints were sold at three guineas (£3 3s.) each (described as "Best
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
Prints"), in addition to limited numbers of more expensive "artists' proofs and prints before letters".H.R.H. The Prince of Wales
''The Age'' (Melbourne), 20 July 1903, page 4.
The sale of prints of Nuttall's painting suffered in comparison to
Tom Roberts Thomas William Roberts (8 March 185614 September 1931) was an English-born Australian artist and a key member of the Heidelberg School art movement, also known as Australian impressionism. After studying in Melbourne, he travelled to Europe i ...
' painting of the same subject, completed in November 1903, of which monochromatic sepia-toned photogravure prints were also sold (thus competing with the sale of prints of Nuttall's painting). In newspaper advertisements and a pamphlet issued in connection with the sale of prints of Nuttall's painting the claim was made that the painting "was produced under the personal patronage of all members of the Federal Government", but this claim was refuted by the prime minister,
Edmund Barton Sir Edmund "Toby" Barton (18 January 18497 January 1920) was an Australian politician, barrister and jurist who served as the first prime minister of Australia from 1901 to 1903. He held office as the leader of the Protectionist Party, before ...
, after enquiries were made by the group that had commissioned Tom Roberts' painting. The marketing of the prints of Nuttall's painting by A. S. Gordon after July 1903 became the subject of controversy in the colonial press in the ensuing years, with reports of his activities including allegations of fraudulent behaviour."Historical Picture Association"
''The Advertiser'' (Adelaide), 6 August 1908, page 9.
A. S. Gordon's Troubles
''The Sun'' (Kalgoorlie), 4 September 1910, page 5.


Illustrator and cartoonist

In 1903 a booklet by Nuttall titled ''Peter Wayback Visits the Melbourne Cup: 15 Humourous Sketches'', selling for threepence each, was published by Edgerton and Moore of Melbourne.Peter Wayback Visits the Melbourne Cup
''State Library of Victoria'' website; accessed 9 May 2024.
Nuttall produced twelve illustrations for ''Tales of Old Times: Early Australian Incident and Adventure'', written by C. H. Chomley and published in 1903 by W. T. Pater & Co. in Melbourne. Chomley's book covered aspects of Australian history such as the founding of
Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
, the
Myall Creek massacre The Myall Creek massacre was the killing of at least 28 unarmed Aboriginal people in the Colony of New South Wales by eight colonists on 10 June 1838 at the Myall Creek in the north of the colony. Seven perpetrators were convicted of murder ...
in 1838 and the Diamond Creek bushrangers (Fogarty, Jepps and Ellis, hanged in Melbourne in 1842).C. H. Chomley (1903)
Tales of Old Times: Early Australian Incident and Adventure
Melbourne : W.T. Pater & Co.; ''State Library of Victoria'' website, accessed 10 May 2024.
In January 1904 it was reported that Nuttall had been commissioned by the
Melbourne Cricket Club The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) is a sports club based in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1838 and is one of the oldest sports clubs in Australia. The MCC is responsible for management and development of the Melbourne Cricket Groun ...
to complete a painting of the final test match between Australia and England, to be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in early March 1904. The painting, on a canvas measuring 8 by 5 feet (2.4 by 1.5 metres), was completed during the week after the final day of the test match. The painting depicted a mass of spectators in the grandstand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the background. The foreground was made up of a large group of men (with about one hundred recognisable faces) in front of the members' stand, including the members of the English team taking the field and the Australian team members amongst the group in the members' reserve. The other figures in the foreground included administrators, distinguished guests and cricketing veterans. Nuttall's painting was reproduced by the Australian Fine Arts Publishing Company and prints were sold for one guinea (or three guineas for an artist's proof). The original painting was installed in one of the rooms of the Melbourne Cricket Club. In January 1904 the Melbourne publishers, the Fitchett brothers, launched an Australian edition of ''
Life Life, also known as biota, refers to matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes. It is defined descriptively by the capacity for homeostasis, Structure#Biological, organisation, met ...
'' magazine, published monthly. The March 1904 issue included an interview with Charles Nuttall (in 'The Day's Work' series). The article, illustrated by the artist, included an account of how he painted his test match picture over a period of six weeks. Nuttall's drawings were used to illustrate an article in the July 1904 issue of ''
Life Life, also known as biota, refers to matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes. It is defined descriptively by the capacity for homeostasis, Structure#Biological, organisation, met ...
'', written by the pianist,
Ignacy Jan Paderewski Ignacy Jan Paderewski (;  
r 1859 R, or r, is the eighteenth letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''ar'' (pronounced ), plural ''ars''. The lette ...
– 29 June 1941) was a Polish pianist, composer and statesman who was a spokesman for Polish independence. In 1919, he was the nation's Prime Minister of Poland, prime minister and foreign minister durin ...
(then touring in Australia), in which he "gives a bright and breezy account of his 'day's work'". Nuttall's illustrations were described as "sketches from life", one of which was "a very fine whole-page study of the pianist's head, drawn whilst he was actually playing the piano". Nuttall also had his work published in '' The New Idea'', another of the Fitchett brothers' publications. In June 1904 Nuttall was appointed as the "special cartoonist" for Melbourne's '' Table Talk'' magazine, replacing Claude Marquet who had left Victoria "to fill an important position in a neighbouring State". Nuttall became responsible for the regular double-page political cartoons in the body of the weekly journal. From March 1905 his cartoons were published on page three of the magazine (the leading page after the advertisements). Nuttall's final feature cartoon for ''Table Talk'' was published in the 29 June 1905 issue. In early 1905 Nuttall designed the cover of an information booklet about the Australian Women's National Club that had been established in Melbourne. The club was associated with the Australian Women's National League, a conservative political lobby group with the objective of influencing female voters. By June 1905 it had become known that Nuttall intended to depart for America to further his career. On the eve of his overseas departure a writer for Adelaide's weekly magazine, ''
The Critic ''The Critic'' is an American Adult animation, adult animated sitcom revolving around the life of New York film critic Jay Sherman, voiced by Jon Lovitz. It was created by writing partners Al Jean and Mike Reiss, who had previously worked as w ...
'', described Nuttall as "a newspaper artist of the 'useful' type", adding: "None of his work is particularly brilliant, and as a caricaturist he is not prominent". Nuttall left for the United States on 10 July 1905 aboard the steamship ''R.M.S. Manuka''.


New York

After arriving in the United States Charles Nuttall established himself in a studio in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. An article written by the artist recording his impressions of New York was published in the January 1906 issue of the Australian edition of ''Life''. The article was titled 'Glimpses of New York: An Australian in America' and was illustrated with his sketches. During his years in New York Nuttall had cartoons and illustrations published in a number of the New York-based illustrated magazines such as ''
Life Life, also known as biota, refers to matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes. It is defined descriptively by the capacity for homeostasis, Structure#Biological, organisation, met ...
'', ''
The Century Magazine ''The Century Magazine'' was an illustrated monthly magazine first published in the United States in 1881 by The Century Company of New York City, which had been bought in that year by Roswell Smith and renamed by him after the Century Associati ...
'', ''
Scribner's Magazine ''Scribner's Magazine'' was an American periodical published by the publishing house of Charles Scribner's Sons from January 1887 to May 1939. ''Scribner's Magazine'' was the second magazine out of the Scribner's firm, after the publication of ...
'' and ''
Harper's Bazaar ''Harper's Bazaar'' (stylized as ''Harper's BAZAAR'') is an American monthly women's fashion magazine. Bazaar has been published in New York City since November 2, 1867, originally as a weekly publication entitled ''Harper's Bazar''."Corporat ...
''.Australians in America
''The Herald'' (Melbourne), 12 August 1908, page 3; see a clearer version of the same article
Australia and America
''Evening News'' (Sydney), 20 August 1908, page 5.
During 1907 several of his cartoons were published in the humour section of ''Harper's Bazaar'' (in the September and December editions). One of Nuttall's cartoons was used as the cover illustration for the 9 January 1908 edition of ''Life''. Nuttall joined the staff of the ''
New York Herald The ''New York Herald'' was a large-distribution newspaper based in New York City that existed between 1835 and 1924. At that point it was acquired by its smaller rival the '' New-York Tribune'' to form the '' New York Herald Tribune''. Hi ...
'' and was engaged to draw the '
Buster Brown Buster Brown is a comic strip character created in 1902 by Richard F. Outcault that was adopted as the mascot of the Brown Shoe Company in 1904. The characters of Buster Brown, Mary Jane, and his dog Tige became well known to the American publ ...
'
comic strip A comic strip is a Comics, sequence of cartoons, arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often Serial (literature), serialized, with text in Speech balloon, balloons and Glossary of comics terminology#Captio ...
, possibly as early as 1906. The 'Buster Brown' character had been created by
Richard F. Outcault Richard Felton Outcault (; January 14, 1863 – September 25, 1928) was an American cartoonist. He was the creator of the series ''The Yellow Kid'' and ''Buster Brown'' and is considered a key pioneer of the modern comic strip. Life and career ...
in May 1902 for the ''New York Herald''. In January 1906 Outcault was hired by the Hearst newspaper group and tried to bring the 'Buster Brown' comic strip with him. In a subsequent court decision the ''Herald'' retained the rights to the name 'Buster Brown' and continued to publish the comic strip in its Sunday edition using other artists. Outcault continued to draw the character as well, now nameless, in comic strips published in Hearst-owned rival newspapers. The ''New York Herald'' also retained the rights to Outcault's work undertaken during his previous employment by the newspaper. The New York publishers Cupples & Leon Co. took over the reprint rights for Outcault's ''Herald'' comic strips. The first volume by Cupples & Leon, ''Buster Brown, His Dog Tige and Their Jolly Times'', compiling part of the final series of Outcault's ''Herald'' comic strips, was published in 1906 with a cover by Charles Nuttall. The fact that Nuttall was involved as early as 1906 possibly indicates that he was employed to draw the 'Buster Brown' comic strip soon after Outcault's departure. Contrary to the usual practice, the post-Outcault 'Buster Brown' comic strips were not signed by the artist, but each one displayed a copyright notification (for example "Copyright, 1906 by the New York Herald Co."). Nuttall's New York studio was located nearby to the residence of the celebrated writer and humorist
Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, and essayist. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced," with William Fau ...
, then aged in his early seventies. One day in 1907 the artist visited Twain and undertook a number of sketches of the writer. Later the two men played billiards, "in a game of 100 up" (that was comprehensively won by Twain). After Mark Twain died in April 1910 an article written by Nuttall recalling details of the visit, and illustrated by his sketches of the writer, was published in the June issue of the Australian ''Life''. In about March 1907 the prolific writer of
children's fiction Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. In addition to conventional literary genres, modern children's literature is classified by the intended age of the reade ...
Edward Stratemeyer Edward L. Stratemeyer (; October 4, 1862 – May 10, 1930) was an American publisher, writer of children's fiction and founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate. He is one of the most prolific writers in the world, having penned over 1,300 book ...
met with Charles Nuttall in New York, an encounter that led to the artist being commissioned to provide the illustrations for an estimated 64 different titles over a period of about three years for the
Stratemeyer Syndicate The Stratemeyer Syndicate was an American publishing company that produced a number of mystery book series for children, including Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, the various Tom Swift series, the Bobbsey Twins, the Rover Boys, and others. It pu ...
book packaging Book packaging (or book producing) is a publishing activity in which a publishing company outsources the myriad tasks involved in putting together a book—writing, researching, editing, illustrating, and even printing—to an outside company calle ...
company.James D. Keeline (2004), 'Daubs and botches: The Artwork for ''Dave Porter's Return to School
Newsboy
July-August 2004, Vol. XLII No. 4, pages 9-19, The Horatio Alger Society; accessed 3 May 2024.
Stratemeyer's company organised the production of fiction books for children, written by Stratemeyer and a team of freelance writers and using publishers in New York and Boston. The books were published in series featuring the same characters, often using
pseudonyms A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true meaning (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individual's ow ...
for the author's name. Stratemeyer's regular artist, Augustus Shute, had died in March 1906 and Stratemeyer was displeased with the artists commissioned since then by his Boston publisher to illustrate his books in the 'Dave Porter' series. When ''Dave Porter's Return to School'', the third volume in the series, was published in March 1907, the publisher had chosen F. Gilbert Edge to do the artwork, but Stratemeyer was appalled by Edge's pictures after he was sent an advance copy of the book in early 1907. In a letter to the publisher Stratemeyer expressed his feelings: "I am so disgusted, disheartened and discouraged I hardly know what to say further". He ordered that any copies of the book already sent to booksellers be recalled. Stratemeyer resolved to find an artist to provide replacement artwork for ''Dave Porter's Return to School'' and decided to meet with Nuttall. Stratemeyer was already familiar with Nuttall's work as the artist had been engaged during 1906 to illustrate a number of Stratemeyer Syndicate titles that were published by Cupples & Leon Co. in New York (the same company publishing the 'Buster Brown' compilations). After their meeting Stratemeyer gave Nuttall written instructions of his requirements. He requested that the artist use Shute's illustrations as a stylistic guide "but give us something clean-cut and gentlemanly", adding that "we prefer pictures 'filled out' to the marginal lines". Nuttall's artwork for ''Dave Porter's Return to School'' was included in the republished volume.Dave Porter's Return to School; Or, Winning the Medal of Honor
''Project Gutenberg'' website; accessed 3 May 2024.
Nuttall was commissioned to produce illustrations for many of the Stratemeyer Syndicate titles for the remainder of his period of working in America. In August 1908 Nuttall returned to Australia for a brief visit (via the Canadian-Australian steamer 'R.M.S. Marama'), staying with his parents in the Melbourne suburb of Clifton Hill. The artist intimated that after returning to New York "he has contracts to fulfill which will take him well on to the end of next year". A selection of Nuttall's "character sketches from life", titled 'Americans To-day', was published in Melbourne's ''Table Talk'' in September 1908; the full-page of illustrations included various stereotypical images of racial and ethnic groups. In March 1909 it was reported that ''Life'' magazine in New York had offered Nuttall "a retainer of a thousand dollars a year for first call on his work". Nuttall departed from New York in June 1910 "to take a three months' holiday trip through Europe" before returning to Australia. Prior to his departure the staff of ''Life'' magazine gave a farewell dinner for the artist. It was reported that Nuttall intended "doing numerous sketches abroad with the view of holding an exhibition in Melbourne on his return".


Return to Australia

Nuttall returned to Melbourne from Europe in November 1910 aboard the mail steamer ''Bremen''. In an interview after his arrival the artist declared: "There is such a big demand for artistic work in New York that any man with original ideas and matter is absolutely sure of a field there". He added that "the daily paper humorist is one of the most highly-paid and hardest to get" and "the man who has succeeded in Melbourne should certainly succeed in New York, but there is no earthly chance for the third-rater". On the subject of American humor Nuttall was of the opinion that it "must be broad", adding: "In spite of their many good qualities, the Americans are not a humorous people. Subtleties are lost. The idea must be thrown out in bold outlines". Nuttall became a regular contributor to ''Everylady's Journal'' (previously ''
New Idea ''New Idea'' is a long-running Australian weekly magazine aimed at women, now published by Are Media. History The magazine was first published in 1902 by Fitchett Bros. The founder was Thomas Shaw Fitchett. It was subtitled A Women's Home Journal ...
''), first published under its new name in June 1911. In 1911 Nuttall was one of seven artists who contributed illustrations to a publication commemorating an incident in the
Second Boer War The Second Boer War (, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, Transvaal War, Anglo–Boer War, or South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer republics (the South African Republic and ...
in February 1900 when members of the
Victorian Mounted Rifles The Victorian Mounted Rifles (VMR) was a regiment composed of Australian forces that served in the Second Boer War. It was first raised by Colonel Tom Price in the mid-1880s, composed of voluntary forces. It was composed of several contingents, th ...
were part of a force covering the retreat of the Wiltshire regiment by holding a
kopje An inselberg or monadnock ( ) is an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain. In Southern Africa, a similar formation of granite is known as a koppie, an ...
named Pink Hill, west of Rensburg, against overwhelming odds. The Victorian casualties were the first of the war.The South African Soldiers' Memorial...
''The Age'' (Melbourne), 23 December 1911, page 10.
Nuttall's political cartoons were regularly published in Melbourne's ''Punch'' from 24 April 1913 to at least December 1918. In June 1916 an exhibition of cartoon illustrations by Nuttall and George Dancey, both artists working for Melbourne's ''Punch'' newspaper, was held at the Athenaeum Hall. The exhibition, titled 'The Story of the War in Cartoon', "commanded much attention and appreciation".Dancey and Nuttall's War Cartoons
''Punch'' (Melbourne), 22 June 1916, page 19.
Nuttall was politically conservative and strongly nationalist. During the conscription debate Nuttall was in favour of a 'yes' vote, made apparent by his cartoon in ''Punch'' showing voters equally balanced on a giant scale, 'yes' on one side and 'no' on the other. Titled 'Weigh in With the Yesses', the text beneath the drawing pointed out: "in a case like this above, your individual vote will be of great weight". Charles Nuttall and Leila Blackbourn were married on 4 December 1918 in St. John's Anglican church in Toorak. The couple had no children.


Later years

In the early 1920s Nuttall taught classes in black and white drawing, caricature and commercial art at his studio in the Block Arcade in Collins Street. In the mid-1920s Nuttall undertook an extended trip through Europe and the
Malay Peninsula The Malay Peninsula is located in Mainland Southeast Asia. The landmass runs approximately north–south, and at its terminus, it is the southernmost point of the Asian continental mainland. The area contains Peninsular Malaysia, Southern Tha ...
and
Indonesian islands The islands of Indonesia, also known as the Indonesian Archipelago () or Nusantara, may refer either to the islands composing the country of Indonesia or to the geographical groups which include its islands. Indonesia is the world's largest ar ...
. From his period of working in New York and his subsequent world travels, Nuttall made use of his experiences and sketches in his pictorial journalism in ''Life'' magazine and other publications, as well as during his later radio talks in the late 1920s and 1930s.Wireless Talks
''Omeo Standard and Mining Gazette'', 2 March 1926, page 3.
In 1926 Nuttall began a series of "travel talks" on the Melbourne radio station
3LO ABC Radio Melbourne (official callsign: 3LO) is an ABC Local Radio station in Melbourne, Australia. It began transmission on 13 October 1924 and was Melbourne's second licensed radio station after 3AR. The other ABC Local Radio stations in Vict ...
. Nuttall established a reputation as an engaging and wide-ranging broadcaster, known for "his wit, travelogues, and his healthy philosophy". His talks were broadcast on both 3LO and 3AR from 1926 until 1934 (the year of his death). In July 1927 Nuttall contributed an article to the Australian ''Life'', described as his "discourses on the world at large and its affairs". His writings and sketches became a regular feature of the magazine under the heading of 'The World at Large'. The last instalment of 'The World at Large' was published in December 1934, written before his death on 28 November. Nuttall had been a contributor to the Australian edition of ''Life'' since its inception in 1904, both as a writer and artist."Life"
''Manilla Express'', 4 January 1935, page 4.
Charles Nuttall died on 28 November 1934, aged 62, of a cerebral haemorrhage at his home in Pasley Street, in the Melbourne suburb of
South Yarra South Yarra is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 4 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Cities of Melbourne and Stonnington local government areas. South Yarra recorded a populati ...
. He was buried in
Boroondara General Cemetery Boroondara General Cemetery, often referred to as Kew cemetery, is one of the oldest cemeteries in Victoria, Australia, created in the tradition of the Victorian garden cemetery. The cemetery, located in Kew, a suburb of Melbourne, is listed ...
in Kew. The December 1934 issue of the Australian ''Life'' magazine included a tribute to Nuttall, written by W. A. Somerset Shum.


Exhibitions

* June 1916, 'The Story of the War in Cartoon' exhibition by Nuttall and George Dancey (both working for Melbourne's ''Punch'' newspaper), held at the Athenaeum Hall. * 1931 (3 November - 17 December): Group show with John Shirlow,
Esther Paterson Esther Paterson Gill (5 February 1892 8 August 1971) was an Australian artist, book-illustrator and cartoonist. Early years Paterson was born in Carlton, Victoria, the second child born to Scottish emigrants Hugh and Elizabeth Leslie (''née' ...
and
Allan Jordan Allan Holder Jordan (1898–1982) was an Australian painter, designer, printmaker and teacher. Early life Allan Jordon was born in 1898 in Elsternwick, Victoria, Elsternwick, the son of Sandhurst-born customs agent James Oliver Jordan and Maud ...
. Fine Art Galleries, Melbourne. Nuttall contributed a number of etchings to the exhibition, mostly of images originating from the artist's travels in Europe (including portraits such as 'A Peasant of Tyrol' and 'A Fisherman of Volendam'). * 1934 (during September): group show of etchings with sixteen other exhibitors at the Newman Art Gallery in Collins Street; other artists included John Shirlow, Victor Cobb, Oscar Binder, J. C. Goodhart,
Sydney Ure Smith Sydney George Ure Smith OBE (9 January 188711 October 1949) was an Australian arts publisher, artist and promoter who "did more than any other Australian to publicize Australian art at home and overseas". Unlike most of his contemporaries, he s ...
, Jessie C. Traill, Harold Herbert, John C. Goodchild, Cyril Dillon and
Allan Jordan Allan Holder Jordan (1898–1982) was an Australian painter, designer, printmaker and teacher. Early life Allan Jordon was born in 1898 in Elsternwick, Victoria, Elsternwick, the son of Sandhurst-born customs agent James Oliver Jordan and Maud ...
. * 1934 (during October): exhibition of Nuttall's etching and drawings at the Newman Art Gallery. * 1935 (6 November): A posthumous exhibition of Nuttall's artwork at Hogan's Gallery, 340 Little Collins Street.


Gallery


Publications

* Charles Nuttall (1902), ''Representative Australians: A Series of Portraits from Original Sketches by Charles Nuttall'', Melbourne: McCarron, Bird & Co. * Charles Nuttall (1903), ''Peter Wayback Visits the Melbourne Cup: Fifteen Humourous Sketches by Charles Nuttall'', Melbourne : Edgerton & Moore. * Charles Nuttall (1910), ''The British Lion: An Australian Artist's Impressions of London'', article published in ''
Life Life, also known as biota, refers to matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes. It is defined descriptively by the capacity for homeostasis, Structure#Biological, organisation, met ...
'', 1 November 1910. * 'One Crowded Hour' (short story), written and illustrated by Charles Nuttall; published in ''The Weekly Times Annual'' (Melbourne), 30 December 1911, page 18. * 'The Dingo' (short story), written and illustrated by Charles Nuttall; published in ''The Weekly Times Annual'' (Melbourne), 28 December 1912, page 47. * Charles Nuttall (1927), 'White Man's Waterloo: Will the Coloured Races Eventually Gain Supremacy of the World?' (article), ''Muswellbrook Chronicle'', 18 March 1927, pages 4, 11 (originally published in ''Life'' magazine). * Charles Nuttall (1933), ''Melbourne Town: Text and Pictures'', Melbourne: Peacock Bros.


Book illustrations


Stratemeyer Syndicate

*
Motor Boys The Motor Boys were the heroes of a popular series of adventure books for boys at the turn of the 20th century issued by the Stratemeyer Syndicate under the pseudonym of Clarence Young. This series was published by Cupples & Leon and was issued ...
series, Clarence Young (pseudonym), published by Cupples & Leon Co. (New York): ''The Motor Boys; or, Chums Through Thick and Thin'' (1906); ''The Motor Boys Overland; or, A Long Trip for Fun and Fortune'' (1906); ''The Motor Boys in Mexico; or, The Secret of the Buried City'' (1906); ''The Motor Boys Across the Plains; or, The Hermit of Lost Lake'' (1907); ''The Motor Boys Afloat; or, The Stirring Cruise of the Dartaway'' (1908); ''The Motor Boys on the Atlantic or, The Mystery of the Lighthouse'' (1908); ''The Motor Boys in Strange Waters; or, Lost in a Floating Forest'' (1909); ''The Motor Boys on the Pacific or, The Young Derelict Hunters'' (1909); ''The Motor Boys in the Clouds; or, A Trip for Fame and Fortune'' (1910). * Boy Hunters series, Captain Ralph Bonehill (pseudonym), published by Cupples & Leon Co. (New York): ''Four Boy Hunters; or, The Outing of the Gun Club'' (1906); ''Guns and Snowshoes; or, The Winter Outing of the Young Hunters'' (1907); '' Young Hunters of the Lake; or, Out with Rod and Gun'' (1908).The Boy Hunters Series
''University of Missouri-Kansas city'' website; accessed 3 May 2024.
* Great Marvel series,
Roy Rockwood Roy Rockwood was a house pseudonym used by Edward Stratemeyer and the Stratemeyer Syndicate for boy's adventure books. The name is most well-remembered for the ''Bomba the Jungle Boy'' series. Series The following series used the Roy Rockwood ps ...
(pseudonym), published by Cupples & Leon Co. (New York): ''Through the Air to the North Pole; or, The Wonderful Cruise of the Electric Monarch'' (1906); ''Jack North's Treasure Hunt; or, Daring Adventures in South America'' (1907); ''Under the Ocean to the South Pole; or, The Strange Cruise of the Submarine Wonder'' (1907); ''Five Thousand Miles Underground; or, The Mystery of the Centre of the Earth'' (1908). * Boys of Business series, Allen Chapman (pseudonym), published by Cupples & Leon Co. (New York): ''Two Boy Publishers; or, From Typecase to Editor's Chair'' (1906); ''Mail Order Frank; or, A Smart Boy and His Chances'' (1907); ''Bart Stirling's Road to Success; or, The Young Express Agent'' (1908). * Dave Porter series,
Edward Stratemeyer Edward L. Stratemeyer (; October 4, 1862 – May 10, 1930) was an American publisher, writer of children's fiction and founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate. He is one of the most prolific writers in the world, having penned over 1,300 book ...
, published by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. (Boston): ''Dave Porter's Return to School; or, Winning the Medal of Honor'' (1907); ''Dave Porter in the Far North; or, The Pluck of an American Schoolboy'' (1908); '' Dave Porter and His Classmates; or, For the Honor of Oak Hall'' (1909). * Pan-American series, Edward Stratemeyer, published by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. (Boston): ''Treasure Seekers of the Andes; or, American Boys in Peru'' (1907). * Jack Ranger series, Clarence Young (pseudonym), published by Cupples & Leon Co. (New York): ''Jack Ranger's Schooldays; or, The Rivals of Washington Hall'' (1907); ''Jack Ranger's Western Trip; or, From Boarding School to Ranch and Range'' (1908); ''Jack Ranger's School Victories; or, Track, Gridiron, and Diamond'' (1908); ''Jack Ranger's Gun Club; or, From Schoolroom to Camp and Trail'' (1910); ''Jack Ranger's Ocean Cruise; or, The Wreck of the Polly Ann'' (1909). * Bobbsey Twins series,
Laura Lee Hope Laura Lee Hope is a pseudonym used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate for the Bobbsey Twins and several other series of children's novels. Actual writers taking up the pen of Laura Lee Hope include Edward Stratemeyer, Howard Howard is a masculine g ...
(pseudonym), published by Grosset & Dunlap (New York): ''The Bobbsey Twins in the Country'' (1907); '' The Bobbsey Twins at the Seashore'' (1907). * Rover Boys series, Arthur M. Winfield (Edward Stratemeyer), published by Grosset & Dunlap (New York): '' The Rover Boys in Southern Waters; or, The Deserted Steam Yacht'' (1907); ''
The Rover Boys on the Farm ''The'' is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the ...
; or, Last Days at Putnam Hall'' (1908); '' The Rover Boys on Treasure Isle; or, The Strange Cruise of the Steam Yacht'' (1909); '' The Rover Boys at College; or, The Right Roads and the Wrong'' (1910). * Edward Stratemeyer (1908), ''First at the North Pole; or, Two Boys in the Arctic Circle'', published by Grosset & Dunlap (New York). * Putnam Hall series, Edward Stratemeyer, published by Grosset & Dunlap (New York): ''The Putnam Hall Champions; or, Bound to Win Out'' (1908); ''The Putnam Hall Rebellion; or, The Rival Runaways'' (1908); ''The Putnam Hall Encampment; or, The Secret of the Old Mill'' (1910). * Lakeport series, Edward Stratemeyer, published by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. (Boston): ''The Gun Club Boys of Lakeport'' (1908); ''The Boat Club Boys of Lakeport'' (1908). * Dorothy Dale series,
Margaret Penrose Margaret Penrose was a house pseudonym used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate as the author of three girls' book series published by Cupples & Leon. The name Margaret Penrose was used for: * The Dorothy Dale series – 1908 to 1924, 13 volumesJohn Axe ...
(pseudonym), published by Cupples & Leon Co. (New York): ''Dorothy Dale: A Girl of Today'' (1908); ''Dorothy Dale at Glenwood School'' (1908); ''Dorothy Dale's Great Secret'' (1909); ''Dorothy Dale and Her Chums'' (1909); ''Dorothy Dale's Queer Holidays'' (1910). * Darewell Chums series, Allen Chapman (pseudonym), published by Cupples & Leon Co. (New York): ''Frank Roscoe's Secret; or The Darewell Chums in the Woods'' (1908); '' Ned Wilding's Disappearance; or, The Darewell Chums in the City'' (1908); ''Fenn Masterson's Discovery; or The Darewell Chums on a Cruise'' (1909). * Dave Fearless series, Roy Rockwood (pseudonym), published by Grosset & Dunlap (New York): ''Dave Fearless and the Cave of Mystery; or, Adrift on the Pacific'' (1908). * Webster series, Frank V. Webster ( Weldon J. Cobb), published by Cupples & Leon Co. (New York): ''Only a Farm Boy; or, Dan Hardy's Rise in Life'' (1909); ''The Boy From the Ranch; or, Roy Bradner's City Experiences'' (1909); ''Bob the Castaway; or, The Wreck of the Eagle'' (1909); ''The Newsboy Partners; or, Who was Dick Box?'' (1909); ''Two Boy Gold Miners; or, Lost in the Mountains'' (1909); ''Comrades of the Saddle; or, The Young Rough Riders of the Plain'' (1910). * Dick Hamilton series, Howard Roger Garis, published by Grosset & Dunlap (New York): ''Larry Dexter's Great Search; or, The Hunt for the Missing Millionaire'' (1909); ''Dick Hamilton's Cadet Days; or, The Handicap of a Millionaire's Son'' (1910). * Musket Boys series, George A. Warren (pseudonym), published by Cupples & Leon Co. (New York): ''The Musket Boys of Old Boston; or, The First Blow for Liberty'' (1909); ''The Musket Boys under Washington; or, The Tories of Old New York'' (1909); ''The Musket Boys on the Delaware; or, A Stirring Victory at Trenton'' (1910). * Motor Girls series, Margaret Penrose (pseudonym), published by Cupples & Leon Co. (New York): ''The Motor Girls on a Tour'' (1910). * Ralph (of the Railroad) series, Allen Chapman (pseudonym), published by Grosset & Dunlap (New York): '' Ralph on the Overland Express; or, The Trials and Triumphs of a Young Engineer'' (1910). * College Sports series, Lester Chadwick (pseudonym), published by Cupples & Leon Co. (New York): '' The Rival Pitchers: A Story of College Baseball'' (1910); ''A Quarterback's Pluck: A Story of College Football'' (1910).


Other

* C. H. Chomley (1903), ''Tales of Old Times: Early Australian Incident and Adventure'', Melbourne: W. T. Pater & Co., illustrated by Charles Nuttall. *
Thomas Hughes Thomas Hughes (20 October 1822 – 22 March 1896) was an English lawyer, judge, politician and author. He is most famous for his novel ''Tom Brown's School Days'' (1857), a semi-autobiographical work set at Rugby School, which Hughes had atte ...
(1913), ''Tom Brown's Schooldays: A Tale of School Life'', Melbourne: George Robertson (abridged and edited for Victorian schools by W. A. Shum; illustrated by Charles Nuttall). * Evelyn Temple Emmett (''c.'' 1913), ''Tommy's Trip to Tasmania'', Hobart: H.H. Pimblett (Government Printer), illustrated by Charles Nuttall. * Edith Willard (1915), ''Maxims of the Corset, Wise and Otherwise'', illustrated by Charles Nuttall. * Sir
Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European literature, European and Scottish literature, notably the novels ''Ivanhoe'' (18 ...
(1916), ''Kenilworth'', Melbourne: A.H. Massina and Macmillan (abridged and edited for schools; four illustrations by Charles Nuttall). * J. Fenimore Cooper (1916), ''The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757'', Melbourne: Macmillan (abridged and edited for schools; four illustrations by Charles Nuttall). * R. M. Ballantyne, ''The Coral Island'', Melbourne: George Robertson (abridged and edited for Victorian schools by Dugald McLachlan; illustrated by Charles Nuttall).The coral island / by R.M. Ballantyne
''National Library of Australia Catalogue'' website, National Library of Australia; accessed 5 May 2024.


Notes

:A. :B. :C. :D.


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Nuttall 1872 births 1934 deaths Australian magazine illustrators 20th-century Australian illustrators 20th-century Australian painters Australian humorists Australian comics artists Australian comic strip cartoonists Australian radio presenters People from Fitzroy, Victoria Artists from Melbourne National Gallery of Victoria Art School alumni