- William Dargie
Sir William Alexander Dargie CBE (
June 4 ,1912 –July 26 ,2003 ) was anAustralia n painter, known especially for his portrait paintings. He holds the record for mostArchibald Prize wins; eight. He was an official AustralianWar Artist duringWorld War II .Biography
William Dargie was born in
Footscray, Victoria , the first son of Andrew Dargie and Adelaide (nee Sargent). [cite web |url=http://www.artistsfootsteps.com/html/dargie_biography.htm |title=The Artists : Sir William Dargie |publisher=The Artists Footsteps |last=MacKenzie |first=Andrew |date=2004-03-22 |accessdate=2008-05-29] His younger brotherHorrie Dargie was a noted Australian musician andharmonicist .cite web |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-129460153.html |title=The artists and the musician:William and Horrie Dargie |publisher=The La Trobe Journal |last=Dargie |first=Roger |accessdate=2008-06-26]When he was young he met important Australian artists such as
Arthur Streeton andTom Roberts . During World War II he served with theAustralian Army in theMiddle East ,New Guinea ,India andBurma . He was digging a trench inTobruk ,Libya , when he was informed that he had won the Archibald Prize in 1942.In December 1954 he painted Australia's official portrait of Queen Elizabeth, who posed for him at
Buckingham Palace . He painted the Duke of Edinburgh in 1956.He painted official portraits of two Australian Prime Ministers: Sir
Arthur Fadden and SirJohn McEwen . Other famous Australians who sat for him included such names as SirCharles Kingsford Smith andMargaret Court .He held positions on several gallery boards, serving on the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board for twenty years. Between 1946 and 1953 he was head of the Victorian Art School at the
National Gallery of Victoria .While he is best known for his portraits, he also painted other works, such as smaller interior views, landscapes and still lifes.
William Dargie died on Saturday July 23, 2003, aged 91, two months after his wife's (Kathllen nee Howlitt) death. [cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/28/1059244564861.html |title=A Quuen's man, in the best tradition|publisher=
Sydney Morning Herald |date=2003-07-29 |accessdate=2008-06-26] [cite web |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1437580/Sir-William-Dargie.html |title=Sir William Dargie |publisher=Daily Telegraph |date=2003-07-30|accessdate=2008-06-26]Honours
He was appointed an Officer (OBE) of the
Order of the British Empire in 1960, and was promoted to Commander (CBE) in 1969. [ [http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1109663&search_type=advanced&showInd=true OBE: 1 Jan 1960] [http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1064643&search_type=advanced&showInd=true CBE: 1 January 1969] ] He wasknight ed in 1970. [ [http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1083782&search_type=advanced&showInd=true Knight bachelor: 13 June 1970] ]Sir William Dargie was one of many prominent Australians to receive the Centenary Medal in 2001 [ [http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1126400&search_type=advanced&showInd=true Centenary Medal: 1 January 2001] . ]
Archibald Prize Winners
Dargie won the Archibald Prize with the following works:
*1941 - Sir James Elder KBE [http://www.artistsfootsteps.com/html/Dargie_sirjameselder.htm (Image)]
*1942 - Corporal Jim Gordon, V.C. [http://www.artistsfootsteps.com/html/Dargie_JimGordon.htm (Image)]
*1945 - Lt-General The Hon Edmund Herring KBC DSO MC ED [http://www.artistsfootsteps.com/html/Dargie_EdmundHerring.htm (Image)]
*1946 - L. C. Robson MC MA [http://www.artistsfootsteps.com/html/Dargie_LCRobson.htm (Image)]
*1947 - Sir Marcus Clark KBE [http://www.artistsfootsteps.com/html/Dargie_MarcusClark.htm (Image)]
*1950 - Sir Leslie McConnan [http://www.artistsfootsteps.com/html/Dargie_Mcconnan.htm (Image)]
*1952 - Mr Essington Lewis CH [http://www.artistsfootsteps.com/html/Dargie_essingtonlewis.htm (Image)]
*1956 - Mr Albert Namatjira [http://www.artistsfootsteps.com/html/Dargie_namatjira.htm (Image)]External links
* [http://www.portrait.gov.au/content/exhibit/dargie/ portrait.gov.au]
* [http://www.artistsfootsteps.com/html/Artists_Dargie.htm Artists Footsteps]
* [http://www.australianart.com.au/artists.php?ID=28 William Dargie at Australian Art]References
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