Sir John Campbell Longstaff

Posted by Jo Murphy Feb 3, 2008

An Aspiring Artist

Sir John Campbell Longstaff (1861-1941), artist, was born at Clunes, Victoria. He showed great talent from an early age. In 1873, he won a junior division prize in the Victorian schools of design's freehand drawing competition. He entered the art school of the National Gallery of Victoria in 1882 when Henry Butler recognized the young man's talent.

He won the school's first travelling scholarship in 1887 with 'Breaking the News', a figure composition depicting the tragic aftermath of a mining accident.

In 1889, he lived at Belle-Ile and under the influence of Russell's Impressionism he temporarily "lightened his palette and loosened his technique." Astbury. 1986 Soon after in Spain he studied the art of Velasquez. Careful craftsmanship and subtle dark tonalities were to continue as an influence on his portraiture style.

Rise To Fame

Longstaff was a highly valued portraitist. He painted King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1904. By 1906, he had a 'magnificent studio' at Carlton Hill and he became a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy in 1902-20. He also exhibited with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters.

In 1911, the acclaimed artist appears to have spent considerable time painting portraits in Sydney and Melbourne. Throughout In 1918-19, he worked as an official war artist with the Australian Imperial Force.

5 Times Archibald Winner

From August 1920 Longstaff lived permanently in Melbourne and according to the NSW Art Gallery; Archibald commissioned John Longstaff to paint a portrait of poet Henry Lawson. Later Archibald's fascination with portraiture led him to leave money in his will for an annual portrait prize.

Because of his great skill, Longstaff won the Archibald Prize for Portraiture. He was honoured in 1925, 1928, 1929, 1931 and 1935.