Arthur Murch

Arthur James Murch (8 July 1902, Croydon (Sydney) – 3 September 1989, Avalon (Sydney)) was an Australian artist[1] who won the Archibald Prize in 1949 with a portrait of Bonar Dunlop. Dunlop was a New Zealand artist sculptor and illustrator.[2]

Not to be confused with the 19th-century illustrator Arthur Murch (illustrator).

Biography

Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo introduced him to the French Post-Impressionists,[3] Cézanne and Seurat. His style later became more Cubist. In 1924, he studied with Rayner Hoff at East Sydney Technical College.[3]

Murch spent time training in London at the Chelsea Polytechnic and at Académie Julian, Paris[3] and visiting Italy[4] after winning the 1925 Society of Artists' Scholarship.[5]

From 1927 to 1930 he worked with artist George Lambert, assisting him with sculptural commissions.

In 1933, he formed part of an Australian expedition into central Australia to Hermannsberg. He later shared his experiences in The Home magazine.[6] In 1936, he exhibited works at the Macquarie Galleries, created after his second "Centralian" expedition, showing landscapes and portraits of the Pentupui indigenous community.[7] In 1937 Murch became a foundation member of, and exhibited with, Robert Menzies' anti-modernist organisation, the Australian Academy of Art. [8] Ironically, Much's painting style displays strong art deco leanings.

He was appointed as an official war artist for six months during the Second World War covering the American and Australia military activities in Australia — 47 works of his are in the Australian War Memorial's collection.[1]

Murch wrote occasionally on art subjects for The Home magazine.[9]

References
  1. Arthur James Murch biography, Australian War Memorial
  2. Winner: Archibald Prize 1949, Art Gallery of NSW
  3. Roberts, Jan, "Murch, Arthur James (1902–1989)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 1 October 2020
  4. "Arthur Murch, b. 1902". National Portrait Gallery people. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  5. "Vol. 7 No. 2 (1 February 1926)". Trove. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  6. "Trove". trove.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  7. "Vol. 57 No. 2937 (27 May 1936)". Trove. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  8. Australian Academy of Art First Exhibition, April 8th-29th, Sydney : Catalogue (1st ed.). Sydney: Australian Academy of Art. 1938. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  9. "Vol. 21 No. 5 (1 May 1940)". Trove. Retrieved 15 August 2020.


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