ART PRIZES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 34, 9 February 1940, Page 4

ART PRIZES

AUSTRALIAN AWARDS

Advice has been received by the authorities at the Australian Pavilion at the Exhibition that the Archibald Prize for the best portrait, preferably of some man or woman who is distinguished in arts, letters, science, or politics in Australia, has been won by Mr. Max Meldrum, Melbourne. Simplified tonal value was stressed by the judges in awarding the prize to this work, and this is exemplified by an earlier work now hanging in the art gallery of the Australian Pavilion at the Exhibition.

Mr. Meldrum's prize-winning portait was a study of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. G. J. Bell, and it was the artist's fourth attempt to win the honour. The portrait at the Exhibition hangs on the right of the art gallery of the Australian Pavilion on entry, and is of a contemporary artist, Mr. John Farmer. The winner of the Wynne Art Prize, regarded by artists as a high honour. was Will' Ashtori, a director .of the National Art Gallery. '* This is his third success in the annual contest for the best Australian landscape or example of figure sculpture. He first won the prize as long ago as 1908.

At the Exhibition there are two oils by Will Ashton in the Australian Art Gallery, "Kurraba Point, Sydney Harbour," and "Marbella," a street scene painted during his wanderings in Spain. Will Ashton won the prize this year with his entry, "Morning Light, Middle Harbour," painted near his own home, which overlooks Sydney Harbour.