Stephen Mead

Bohemianism in colonial Melbourne: a study of four artists’ clubs

This paper examines the development of a Bohemian culture in colonial Melbourne, focussing on four artists’ clubs: The Buonarotti Club (1883-87), Stray Leaves (1889-92), The Cannibal Club (1893-97) and The Ishmael Club (1898-1901). It investigates the role of the writer Marcus Clarke in introducing Parisian and London models of Bohemianism to Melbourne between 1865-1880.  It will be argued that these clubs played a more significant function in the shaping of professional artistic life during this period than has previously been acknowledged.

Monday December 14th, 2009