Author(s): Elizabeth Donaldson

Art

William Dobell (1899-1970) enjoyed a career spanning over forty years. One of Australia's most dynamic artists, his work is highly regarded and held in collections around the world. William Dobell: An Artist's Life traces his path to success from his first lessons at the Sydney Art School in 1925 to his ten years in England and Europe from 1929 to 1939 and finally to his lakeside home in Wangi Wangi, New South Wales. Insightful text is accompanied by over 150 images, including such iconic artworks as Portrait of an Artist, Margaret Olley, The yellow glove and Storm Approaching Wangi. The result is a fascinating tribute to this most beloved of artists and an important contribution to Australia's cultural heritage.This exquisitely produced book is a celebration of the life and work of William Dobell, considered to be one of Australia's greatest artists and the first to win both the Wynne Prize for landscape and the Archibald Prize for portraiture in the same year. However, William Dobell was a quintessential Australian -- more at home in the local pub with his friends than on the international art stage. He was also no stranger to controversy, famously being sued by fellow competitors after winning the Archibald Prize in 1943. Lavishly illustrated with artworks, personal photographs and newspaper clippings, William Dobell: An Artist's Life paints a compelling portrait of both the man and the artist.