Australia:100 Years of the Archibald Prize

In celebration of 100 years of Australia’s oldest and best loved portrait award, the Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, this issue features three unforgettable Archibald Prize-winning portraits from across the decades.

First awarded in 1921, the Archibald Prize was established following a bequest from former Art Gallery trustee and founder of The Bulletin magazine, JF Archibald (1856–1919), whose aim was to foster portraiture, support artists and perpetuate the memory of great Australians. This annual open competition, which is judged by the trustees of the Art Gallery, is awarded to the best portrait, “preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in arts, letters, science or politics, painted by any artist resident in Australasia”. Since its inception, the prize has attracted entries from both prominent and emerging artists in Australia and New Zealand, and celebrated figures from all walks of life. This Archibald centenary year also marks the 150th anniversary of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the home of the prize and one of the nation’s major cultural institutions.

Issue Description
In celebration of 100 years of Australia’s oldest and best loved portrait award, the Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, this issue features three unforgettable Archibald Prize-winning portraits from across the decades.

The earliest is the 1948 winning portrait of artist Margaret Olley (1923–2011) by William Dobell (1899–1970), one of his finest works and an enduring favourite in the Art Gallery’s collection. The 1956 winning portrait of Western Arrernte artist Albert Namatjira (1902–59) by celebrated Australian portrait painter, William Dargie (1912–2003), is one of the most recognisable and universally respected of all Archibald winners. In 2013, the prize was awarded to a portrait of one of Australia’s most acclaimed actors, Hugo Weaving (1960–), by Del Kathryn Barton (1972–), who is renowned for decorative, highly detailed paintings with vibrant, figurative imagery.

This Archibald centenary year also marks the 150th anniversary of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, one of the nation’s major cultural institutions.

Stamps
William Dobell, Margaret Olley, 1948 (AU$1.10)

The 1948 winning portrait of artist Margaret Olley (1923–2011) by William Dobell (1899–1970) is one of his finest works. It is now in the Art Gallery of NSW’s collection, where it is an enduring favourite. Depicting a beloved figure of Australian art, Olley was known for her joyous still life and interior paintings, and as an important benefactor to the arts. William Dargie, Portrait of Albert Namatjira, 1956 (AU$1.10)

This work is one of the most recognisable and universally respected of all Archibald winners, the winning portrait of Western Arrernte artist Albert Namatjira (1902–59) by celebrated Australian portrait painter William Dargie (1912–2003). This iconic portrait was painted in Sydney during a visit by Namatjira to the city. The artwork now resides in the Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art, which purchased it in 1957. Del Kathryn Barton, Hugo, 2013 (AU$1.10)

This work is the 2013 winning portrait of one of Australia’s most acclaimed actors, Hugo Weaving (b. 1960), by Del Kathryn Barton (b. 1972), who is renowned for decorative, highly detailed paintings with vibrant, figurative imagery. The work is now part of a private collection.

First Day Cover
The First Day Cover is a pictorial envelope with the three gummed stamps from the 100 Years of the Archibald Prize stamp issue affixed and postmarked - First day of issue | 28 September 2021 | Sydney, NSW, 2000.

Envelope size: 190mm x 110mm.

Maxi Cards
This Maxicard set contains the three Maxicards from the 100 Years of the Archibald Prize stamp issue. A Maxicard is a prepaid postcard with a stamp affixed and postmarked on the view side. The subject matter of a Maxicard is common to the card, stamp and postmark.