Archibald Prize

The Archibald Prize is regarded as the most important portraiture prize, and is the most prominent of all arts prizes, in Australia. It began in 1921 after a bequest from J F Archibald, the editor of The Bulletin, and is awarded annually by the Trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales for "the best portrait, preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in Art, Letters, Science or Politics, painted by an artist resident in Australasia during the 12 months preceding the date fixed by the Trustees for sending in the pictures." In 2005, the prize awarded was $35,000.

History

The first prize awarded in 1921 was 400 pounds.

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In the early years of the Archibald Prize, the winner was dominated by Victorians, such as McInnes, Longstaff, and Dargie, which was somewhat resented by the art community in Sydney.

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In 1942 William Dargie won the prize with a painting which he had done as an official war artist during World War 2 in Syria. The ship carrying the painting back to Australia sank and was underwater for some time.

Related Topics:
War artist - World War 2 - Syria

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1946 was the first year in which the trustees selected works for entry, rather than displaying all those entered. Less than half of the entries were chosen for exhibition.

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Another notable winner is the 1956 portrait of Australia's first aboriginal citizen, painter Albert Namatjira, by William Dargie. Namatjira is one of the most famous Australian Aboriginal artists and the portrait was done while he was visiting Sydney from the Central Desert. He died only a few years after the portrait was painted. In 1956 the Archibald prize money was 682 pounds 13 shillings and 8 pence.

Related Topics:
Aboriginal - Citizen - Albert Namatjira - William Dargie - Sydney

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In 1964 and 1980 the Trustees decided not to award the prize to anyone, deeming that no work was at the required standard.

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