William Dobell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir William Dobell
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William Dobell, 1942, photograph by Max Dupain
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| Born | 24 September 1899 |
| Died | 13 May 1970 (aged 70) Wangi Wangi, New South Wales, Australia
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| Education | Cooks Hill Public School Slade School of Fine Art |
| Known for | Artist |
| Style | Portrait and Landscape painting |
| Awards | Archibald Prize: 1943, 1948, 1959 Wynne Prize: 1948 |
Sir William Dobell (24 September 1899 – 13 May 1970) was a very famous Australian artist. He was especially known for his amazing portraits and landscape paintings.
Dobell won Australia's top portrait award, the Archibald Prize, three times! There is even an art prize, the Dobell Prize, named after him to honor his contributions to art.
Contents
Early Life and Art Training
William Dobell was born in 1899 in Cooks Hill, a part of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. His dad was a builder, and William was one of six children.
From a young age, it was clear William had a talent for art. He started working for an architect in 1916. Later, in 1924, he moved to Sydney and began taking evening art classes at the Sydney Art School. He learned from teachers like Henry Gibbons and was inspired by artist George Washington Lambert.
Studying Art in Europe
In 1929, Dobell won a special scholarship that allowed him to travel to England. He studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. In 1930, he won first prize for his figure painting there.
He also traveled to other countries in Europe, like Poland, Belgium, and France. After spending 10 years learning and painting in Europe, he returned to Australia in 1939. He brought with him a new, more expressive style of painting.
War Artist and First Exhibition
When World War II started, Dobell worked as a camouflage painter in 1941. This meant he painted things to help them blend in and hide. Later, he became an unofficial war artist, capturing scenes from the war.
In 1944, Dobell had his very first solo art show in Sydney. This was a big moment for him, showing his work to a wider audience.
Travels and Later Works
In 1949, Dobell visited New Guinea with some writers. This trip inspired him to create a new series of small, brightly colored landscape paintings. He went back to New Guinea in 1950 and continued to paint scenes from there, as well as more portraits.
Between 1960 and 1963, TIME magazine asked Dobell to paint four portraits for their magazine covers. He painted important people like Sir Robert Menzies, who was the Prime Minister of Australia, and the President of South Vietnam.
In 1964, a large exhibition of Dobell's work was held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. This show looked back at his entire career.
Legacy and Remembrance
William Dobell was a private person, and most people knew him as "Bill." He passed away on May 13, 1970, in Wangi Wangi, Australia.
He left his money to the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation, which was started in 1971. This foundation helps support art and artists, and it awards the Dobell Australian Drawing Biennial in his honor.
Many books and even a film have been made about William Dobell's life and art. These include "Yours sincerely, Bill Dobell" (a film from 1981) and several biographies like "Portrait of an Artist – A biography of William Dobell" and "William Dobell: An Artist's Life." These works help us remember his amazing talent and contributions to Australian art.
Images for kids
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Sir William Dobell visiting an art class at the Newcastle Technical College Art School in 1956
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Plaque at the site of Dobell's interment at Newcastle Memorial Park in Beresfield
See also
- Visual arts of Australia
