Fred Leist
Encyclopedia
Frederick William Leist (21 August 1878 – 20 March 1945) was an Australia
n artist. During the First World War, he was an official war artist with Australian forces in Europe.
, from whom he learned plein air techniques.
In the 1890s, he began working as a black-and-white
artist for The Bulletin
and The Sydney Mail
newspapers. After 1900, he also the Sydney representative for the Graphic magazine of London.
In 1917, Leist was appointed as an official war artist to serve with the Australian Imperial Force in France.
Leist completed numerous paintings during the war and after his war service contributed two large mural
s for the Australian Exhibition at the British Empire Exhibition
held at Wembley
in 1924. As a result of these works Leist popularity increased and he gained several commissions from the United States
and toured the south west of America, including Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
Returning to Australia in 1926, Leist took up a position as the Head of Painting at the East Sydney Technical College.
Leist died at Mosman
, Sydney
in 1945. He was survived by his wife Ada.
Leist is represented in the Art Gallery of New South Wales
with ten works as well a representations in several private collections. Many of his paintings as a war artist are in the collection of the Australian War Memorial
in Canberra
. Some of his portraits are in Parliament House, Canberra
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n artist. During the First World War, he was an official war artist with Australian forces in Europe.
Early life
Leist studied at the Sydney Art School studying under Julian AshtonJulian Ashton
Julian Rossi Ashton was an Australian artist and teacher, known for his support of the Heidelberg School and for his influential art school in Sydney....
, from whom he learned plein air techniques.
In the 1890s, he began working as a black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
artist for The Bulletin
The Bulletin
The Bulletin was an Australian weekly magazine that was published in Sydney from 1880 until January 2008. It was influential in Australian culture and politics from about 1890 until World War I, the period when it was identified with the "Bulletin school" of Australian literature. Its influence...
and The Sydney Mail
The Sydney Mail
The Sydney Mail was an Australian magazine published weekly in Sydney. The weekly edition of The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, it ran from 1860 to 1938....
newspapers. After 1900, he also the Sydney representative for the Graphic magazine of London.
In 1917, Leist was appointed as an official war artist to serve with the Australian Imperial Force in France.
Leist completed numerous paintings during the war and after his war service contributed two large mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s for the Australian Exhibition at the British Empire Exhibition
British Empire Exhibition
The British Empire Exhibition was a colonial exhibition held at Wembley, Middlesex in 1924 and 1925.-History:It was opened by King George V on St George's Day, 23 April 1924. The British Empire contained 58 countries at that time, and only Gambia and Gibraltar did not take part...
held at Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
in 1924. As a result of these works Leist popularity increased and he gained several commissions from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and toured the south west of America, including Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
Returning to Australia in 1926, Leist took up a position as the Head of Painting at the East Sydney Technical College.
Leist died at Mosman
Mosman, New South Wales
Mosman is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mosman is located 8 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Mosman.-Localities:In February...
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1945. He was survived by his wife Ada.
Leist is represented in the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Art Gallery of New South Wales , located in The Domain in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was established in 1897 and is the most important public gallery in Sydney and the fourth largest in Australia...
with ten works as well a representations in several private collections. Many of his paintings as a war artist are in the collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. Some of his portraits are in Parliament House, Canberra
Parliament House, Canberra
Parliament House is the meeting facility of the Parliament of Australia located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. The building was designed by Mitchell/Giurgola Architects and opened on 1988 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia...
.