Charles Nuttall

Charles Nuttall
Charles Nuttall in 1902
Charles Nuttall in 1902
BornJames Charles Nuttall
(1872-09-06)6 September 1872
Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia
Died28 November 1934(1934-11-28) (aged 62)
South Yarra, Victoria, Australia
OccupationArtist, cartoonist, illustrator, writer, broadcaster
Signature

Charles Nuttall (born James Charles Nuttall; 6 September 1872 – 28 November 1934) was a prolific Australian artist, writer and radio broadcaster. He spent much of his working life in Melbourne, apart from a period in New York City from 1905 to 1910.

Nuttall became widely known as an artist for his large-scale painting of the opening of the first Australian parliament in 1901. His painting, completed in June 1902, was notable for the large number of identifiable portraits of the dignitaries present at the ceremony. Framed prints of the painting were marketed as patriotic adornments suitable for public buildings, schools, places of business and private homes. During the next few years Nuttall produced book illustrations, political cartoons and began a life-long association as a writer and artist for the Australian edition of Life magazine.

In 1905 Nuttall travelled to the United States and established himself in New York City, He was employed by the New York Herald to draw the 'Buster Brown' comic strip and had his cartoons and illustrations published in a variety of illustrated magazines. He was employed as a book illustrator for the Stratemeyer Syndicate company which produced fiction for children. Nuttall illustrated an estimated 64 different titles over a period of about three years for the company.

Nuttall returned to Australia in 1910 and established a studio in Melbourne, where he produced cartoons, book illustrations and taught drawing classes. He was employed as a cartoonist for Melbourne's Punch from 1913 to 1918. In 1926 he began a career as a radio broadcaster, delivering talks on a wide-range of subjects.