Fantasy Modern: Loudon Sainthill’s Theatre of Art and Life

Australian painter and theatre artist Loudon Sainthill and his partner, entrepreneur and gallery director Harry Tatlock Miller, were at the heart of avant-garde artistic and literary circles in mid-twentieth century Melbourne, Sydney and London.

This sumptuously illustrated biography details their life and times, and contains much of Sainthill’s work along with never-before-published archival photographs. Infused with fantasy, colour and surrealism, Sainthill’s art embraced painting, murals, book illustration, textile design and fashion. But he is best known for his costumes, design and artwork for the theatre and ballet - including for the Ballets Russes, Helene Kirsova’s ballet company, and in London, Michael Benthall’s production of The Tempest and Robert Helpmann’s L'Coq d'or.

In this meticulously researched book Andrew Montana paints a compelling picture of an internationally celebrated Australian artist.