cartoonist, drew a very competent series of pen and ink drawings (Dixson Galleries A66) that are an Australian parody of Edward Fitzgerald’s version of The Rubáiyát of Omar Khyayyám (first published in 1859 but made famous in the 1920s(?) illustrated version by the French Edmund Dulac). Presumably done for publication, they include very witty local references and were presumably drawn c.1920s (though could be earlier). One example with lobsters was in 1999 State Library of New South Wales exhibition.
Ned Wethered illustrated Off the Blue Bush: Verses for Australians West and East by John Philip Bourke (“Bluebush”) edited by A.G. Stephens. Dedicated to WA, it was published in 1915 by Tyrell’s in Sydney and printed by Mortons Ltd Printers, 75 Ultimo Road, Sydney. Had both a limited and a trade edition. In the 'Acknowledgment’, Stephens states: 'The illustrations by Mr. Ned Wethered represent the promising efforts of a Western Australian designer and illustrator, almost wholly self-taught, aged twenty. Their youthful defects are apparent, yet they depict life, character, and scenery in a Western mining town with a gust that preserved faithfully the spirit of the verses.’ Bourke’s verses were originally contributed to the Sun, Kalgoorlie and Perth Sunday Times. Bouke died at Boulder WA on 13/1/1914. These drawings seem cruder and simpler (and less funny) than the Rubyiat ones and evidently predate them.
- Writers:
- Kerr, Joan
- Date written:
- 1996
- Last updated:
- 2007
