Robert Hughes (critic) facts for kids

Robert Studley Forrest Hughes AO (1938–2012) was an Australian writer, art critic, and TV presenter. He became famous for his strong opinions about art. In 1997, he was called "the most famous art critic in the world."

Hughes was widely known for his book and TV show about modern art, called The Shock of the New. He also worked as an art critic for TIME magazine for many years. Another famous book he wrote was The Fatal Shore (1986). This book looked at the history of the British convict system in early Australia.

Robert Hughes was known for his direct way of talking about art and artists. He liked traditional art more, but he didn't follow any single art theory. People admired his writing style, which was powerful and clear.

Early Life and Education

Robert Hughes was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1938. His father and grandfather were both lawyers. His father, Geoffrey Forrest Hughes, was a pilot in the First World War. He later became a lawyer and company director. Robert's father passed away when Robert was 12 years old.

Robert grew up in Rose Bay, a suburb of Sydney. He went to Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview for school. After that, he studied arts and architecture at the University of Sydney. While at university, he spent time with a group of creative people called the "Sydney Push." This group included writers and artists like Germaine Greer and Clive James.

Career as an Art Critic

Robert Hughes first wanted to be an artist and a poet. He left university to become a cartoonist. Then, he became an art critic for a Sydney magazine called The Observer. He also wrote for other magazines like Nation and The Sunday Mirror.

In 1964, Hughes moved from Australia to Europe. He lived in Italy for a short time before settling in London in 1965. In London, he wrote for major newspapers like The Spectator, The Daily Telegraph, and The Times.

In 1970, he became the art critic for TIME magazine and moved to New York. He quickly became a very important voice in the art world.

Writing About Art History

In 1966, Hughes published an important book about Australian painting called The Art of Australia. This book is still considered a key work today.

Hughes also wrote and narrated an eight-part TV series for the BBC called The Shock of the New (1980). This series explored how modern art developed after the Impressionists. A book with the same title was released with the show. Critics said that Hughes made the topic interesting and thought-provoking.

His TV series American Visions (1997) looked at the history of American art since the Revolution. He also made a documentary about the artist Francisco Goya in 2002. In 2004, he created an updated version of The Shock of the New.

As a Journalist and Historian

In 1978, Robert Hughes briefly worked as a journalist for the ABC News show 20/20.

His best-selling book The Fatal Shore came out in 1987. It was a detailed study of the British convict settlements and early European history in Australia. This book became popular around the world.

Hughes also made a TV series called Australia: Beyond the Fatal Shore (2000). In this series, he shared his thoughts on modern Australia and his connection to it.

Personal Life

Robert Hughes married his first wife, Danne Emerson, in 1967. They had one son named Danton. They later divorced in 1981. Hughes married his second wife, Victoria Whistler, in 1981. They divorced in 1996.

In 2001, Hughes married his third wife, American artist Doris Downes. He said she helped him greatly after a difficult time.

Later Years and Death

After a long illness, Robert Hughes passed away on August 6, 2012, in New York City. He was 74 years old. His wife was with him when he died. He was also survived by his two stepsons, his brothers, and his sister.

His Impact on Art Criticism

Robert Hughes was a very influential art critic. His TV series The Shock of the New was a big success. It helped many people understand modern art. He believed that modern art became exciting when it focused on expressing human feelings rather than just copying nature.

Hughes was known for his strong opinions, whether he was praising art or criticizing it. He supported London painters like Frank Auerbach and Lucian Freud. He also greatly admired Francisco Goya and Pierre Bonnard.

However, he often disagreed with much of postmodernism and neo-expressionism. He didn't like artists like Julian Schnabel and David Salle. He also criticized how money influenced the art market. Hughes didn't like art that was new just for the sake of being new. But he also didn't like old-fashioned art that avoided taking risks. He famously called contemporary Australian Indigenous art "the last great art movement of the 20th century."

People often compared Hughes's writing to famous authors like George Bernard Shaw and William Shakespeare. His writing was described as "muscular and fast." He avoided using confusing art jargon, which made his writing clear and powerful. For example, he once wrote that Schnabel's work was like "a lurching display of oily pectorals."

Awards and Recognition

• 1982: Frank Jewett Mather Award for art criticism.
• 1985: Second Frank Jewett Mather Award.
• 1987: Named a Literary Lion by the New York Public Library.
• 1988: Received the American Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award.
• 1988: W. H. Smith Literary Award for The Fatal Shore.
• 1991: Made an Officer of the Order of Australia.
• 1995: Given an Honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Melbourne.
• 1996: Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
• 1997: Chosen as one of 40 "Living National Treasures" in Australia.
• 2000: London Sunday Times Writer of the Year.
• 2006: Creu de Sant Jordi award.
• 2007: New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Douglas Stewart Prize for non-fiction for Things I Didn't Know: a Memoir.
• 2009: "The Mona Lisa Curse" – Winner of the 2009 Grierson Award for Best Documentary on the Arts.
• 2009: International Emmy Award – Arts Programming, for "The Mona Lisa Curse".

See also

In Spanish: Robert Hughes para niños