Martin Boyd
Encyclopedia
Martin à Beckett Boyd was a member of Australia’s most prolific artistic dynasty of painters, sculptors, potters, writers, architects, graphic designers and musicians.
He was born in Lucerne
, Switzerland, the youngest son of Arthur Merric Boyd
(1862–1940) and Emma Minnie à Beckett (1858–1936). His siblings included the potter William Merric Boyd
(1888–1959), painters Theodore Penleigh Boyd
(1890–1923) and Helen à Beckett Read, née Boyd (1903–1999).
Brought up in Melbourne and trained as an architect, Boyd left to serve in World War I. After the war he settled in England and, apart from a brief period between 1948 and 1951, remained in England and continental Europe, dying in Rome on 3 June 1972.
Martin Boyd never married but took a keen interest in the development of his nephews and nieces and their families, including potter Lucy Beck (b. 1916), painter Arthur Boyd
(1920–1999), sculptor Guy Boyd
(1923–1988), painter David Boyd
(b. 1924), painter Mary Nolan (b. 1926), and architect Robin Boyd
(1919–1971). On his death he appointed Guy as his literary executor.
In 1928 under the pseudonym Martin Mills he won the Australian Literature Society Gold Medal
for his novel The Montforts, a novel based on the history of Boyd’s à Beckett ancestors. In 1957, as Martin Boyd again won the ALS Gold Medal
award for A Difficult Young Man.
He was born in Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
, Switzerland, the youngest son of Arthur Merric Boyd
Arthur Merric Boyd
Arthur Merric Boyd was an Australian painter, and founder of the Boyd artistic dynasty.Boyd was born in Opoho, Dunedin, New Zealand, son of Captain John Theodore Thomas Boyd, formerly of County Mayo, Ireland, and his wife Lucy Charlotte, daughter of Dr Robert Martin of Heidelberg, Victoria...
(1862–1940) and Emma Minnie à Beckett (1858–1936). His siblings included the potter William Merric Boyd
Merric Boyd
William Merric Boyd was an Australian artist active as a ceramicist, painter, and sculptor.Merric Boyd is credited as the father of studio pottery in Australia; he is also known for his drawing, painting and sculpting...
(1888–1959), painters Theodore Penleigh Boyd
Penleigh Boyd
Theodore Penleigh Boyd was an Australian artist.Penleigh Boyd was a member of the Boyd artistic dynasty: his parents Arthur Merric Boyd and Emma Minnie Boyd were well-known artists of the day, and his brothers included Merric Boyd the ceramacist and the novelist Martin Boyd...
(1890–1923) and Helen à Beckett Read, née Boyd (1903–1999).
Brought up in Melbourne and trained as an architect, Boyd left to serve in World War I. After the war he settled in England and, apart from a brief period between 1948 and 1951, remained in England and continental Europe, dying in Rome on 3 June 1972.
Martin Boyd never married but took a keen interest in the development of his nephews and nieces and their families, including potter Lucy Beck (b. 1916), painter Arthur Boyd
Arthur Boyd
Arthur Merric Bloomfield Boyd, AC, OBE was one of the leading Australian painters of the late 20th Century. A member of the prominent Boyd artistic dynasty in Australia, his relatives included painters, sculptors, architects or other arts professionals. His sister Mary Boyd married John Perceval,...
(1920–1999), sculptor Guy Boyd
Guy Boyd (sculptor)
Guy Martin à Beckett Boyd was an Australian sculptor.Born in Murrumbeena, Victoria, he was a member of the famous Boyd artistic dynasty, and brother of painters Arthur Boyd and David Boyd. Guy Boyd was a potter and figurative sculptor noted for his ability to capture the fluidity and sensuality of...
(1923–1988), painter David Boyd
David Boyd (artist)
David Fielding Gough Boyd, OAM was an Australian artist, and a member of the Boyd artistic dynasty.-Boyd family artistic dynasty:...
(b. 1924), painter Mary Nolan (b. 1926), and architect Robin Boyd
Robin Boyd
Robin Gerard Penleigh Boyd CBE was an influential Australian architect, writer, teacher and social commentator...
(1919–1971). On his death he appointed Guy as his literary executor.
In 1928 under the pseudonym Martin Mills he won the Australian Literature Society Gold Medal
ALS Gold Medal
The Australian Literature Society Gold Medal is awarded annually by the Association for the Study of Australian Literature for “an outstanding literary work in the preceding calendar year.” From 1928 to 1974 it was awarded by the Australian Literature Society, then from 1983 by the Association for...
for his novel The Montforts, a novel based on the history of Boyd’s à Beckett ancestors. In 1957, as Martin Boyd again won the ALS Gold Medal
ALS Gold Medal
The Australian Literature Society Gold Medal is awarded annually by the Association for the Study of Australian Literature for “an outstanding literary work in the preceding calendar year.” From 1928 to 1974 it was awarded by the Australian Literature Society, then from 1983 by the Association for...
award for A Difficult Young Man.