Nebuchadnezzar dreaming of gold

A painter, printmaker and potter, Arthur Boyd was born in 1920 into an artistic family, who lived at Murrumbeena on the rural outskirts of Melbourne. Drawing on literary and mythological themes, he became known for his lyrical and emotive explorations of universal human experience and suffering.

In this momentous series, the artist employs a deeply personal form of symbolism, whereby he links the biblical legend of Nebuchadnezzar with contemporary historical events, such as the Vietnam War. Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon from 602 to 562 BCE, was a highly successful ruler who became so preoccupied with power that he was cast into the wilderness to rediscover his humility. Boyd, who had a long-standing interest in the theme of the outsider, completed over 100 works in response to the subject. The series was first exhibited in 1968 at the Adelaide Festival of Arts and firmly established Boyd’s reputation as one of Australia’s most significant modern artists.

Elle Freak, Associate Curator of Australian Paintings and Sculpture