Rose Lindsay

Rose c.1938 - Oil on canvas by Norman Lindsay. You can only wonder at the fascinating world that they must have shared together on the Lindsay Estate, a bohemian world filled with so much incredible beauty, both natural, and created at the hands of such a genius as Norman. But as they say, behind every great man...

LINDSAY, ROSE (née Soady - 1885-1978), artist's model, printmaker and author, was born on 5 July 1885 at Gosford, New South Wales, and registered as Rosa, third of nine children of English-born parents John Francis Soady, labourer, and his wife Rosanna, née Gale. Although Catholic, her parents kept religion out of their family's daily lives. Rose was raised in bushland near the Lane Cove River, in the Sydney suburb of Longueville.

Rose Lindsay 1970, by Anthony Browell (b. 1945)- National Portrait Gallery.
Rose posed for Sydney Long, Antonio Dattilo Rubbo and Fred Leist before she met Norman Lindsay in 1902. By 1903 she was installed in his Rowe Street studio rooms as his model and lover, and they later married. Rose continued as Lindsay’s principal model, becoming possibly the most frequently painted woman in the history of Australian art. She wrote two books on her life, 'Ma and Pa: My Childhood Memories (1963)' and 'Model Wife: my life with Norman Lindsay (1967)'.

Late in 1912 Rose and Norman had purchased a house and built a studio near Springwood, in the Blue Mountains, which was visited by such well-known figures as 'Banjo' Paterson, Henry Lawson, Dame Nellie Melba and Miles Franklin. On 14 January 1920 at Hawthorn, Strathfield, Rose married Norman with Presbyterian forms. His divorce was made absolute two weeks later. Their children Janet and Helen were born in 1920 and 1922 respectively. Committed to Norman as both his muse and collaborator, Rose spent many hours at the etching press, perfecting her printmaking skills. In addition, she efficiently managed his career, while working on her own creative interests.

Rose and Norman travelled to the United States of America and England in 1931-32. From about 1958 she lived with her daughter Janet at Hunters Hill, Sydney. In her late seventies Rose began to write.Norman died in 1969.

In February 1973 the property at Springwood was purchased by the National Trust of Australia and opened to the public as the Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum.

Rose Lindsay died on 23 May 1978 at the Caroline Chisholm Nursing Home, Lane Cove, and was cremated. Her two daughters survived her. She was fondly remembered for her dry wit and vivacious temperament.