Colin Cuthbert Orr Colahan
Born(1897-02-12)12 February 1897
Woodend, Victoria, Australia
Died6 June 1987(1987-06-06) (aged 90)
Ventimiglia, Italy
Alma materXavier College, Melbourne
Occupations
  • Painter
  • Sculptor

Colin Cuthbert Orr Colahan (12 February 1897, Woodend, Victoria – 6 June 1987, Ventimiglia) was an Australian painter and sculptor.[1] Educated at Xavier College.

Second youngest of the six children of Surgeon-Major-General John Joseph Aloysius Colahan (1836-1918), and Eliza McDowell Colahan (1859–1899), née Orr: Mary Margarita Colahan (1886–1965); Beatrice Clare Colahan (1889–1984); Frederick John Orr Colahan (1892–1982); John Maurice Orr "Jack" Colahan (1894–1917);[2] Colin; and Basil Nicholas Orr Colahan (1898–1980).

While a student in Melbourne, and joined Max Meldrum's school of painting and subsequently became a key figure of the Australian tonalist movement. In 1937 he joined and exhibited with Robert Menzies' Australian Academy of Art.[3]

Colahan created the 'Sirena' fountain for the Italian town of Bordighera. His sculpture of the head of Victor Smorgon was bought by the National Gallery of Victoria. His work can be found in the collections of the state galleries of Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. He was appointed an Australian official war artist in 1942.[1]

A portrait in oil of F. Matthias Alexander (of "Alexander technique" fame), painted by Colahan to commemorate the subject's 80th birthday, was shown on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow programme in May 2013, when it was still in the possession of the son of the wife of Alexander's nephew.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Kinnane, Garry. "Colahan, Colin Cuthbert Orr (1897–1987)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  2. ↑ Roll of Honour: Gunner John Maurice Orr Colahan, Killed in Action, The Advocate, (Saturday, 17 November 1917), p.17.
  3. ↑ Australian Academy of Art First Exhibition, April 8th-29th, Sydney : Catalogue (1st ed.). Sydney: Australian Academy of Art. 1938. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  4. ↑ "Stowe House 2". Antiques Roadshow. Series 35. Episode 23. 19 May 2013. BBC Television. Retrieved 19 May 2013.


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