The Life and Art of Ernest Buckmaster
Born in Victoria, Australia, Ernest William Buckmaster was an accomplished painter known for his portraits, still lifes, and landscapes. After leaving school at age fourteen, he worked as a messenger boy before being apprenticed to a signwriter in 1913. He later studied at the National Gallery School in Melbourne from 1918 to 1924, where his teachers included Lindsay Bernard Hall and W. B. McInnes.
Buckmaster achieved significant recognition in the Australian art scene, winning the Archibald Prize in 1932 with a portrait of Sir William Irvine. During World War II, he served as an official war artist for the Australian military's Military History Section, traveling to Singapore to paint the Japanese surrender. His work is held in various collections, including the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Australian War Memorial.
Artistic Achievements and Legacy
A follower of the Heidelberg School, Buckmaster often painted en plein air rather than from photographs. His prolific output included:
- Traditional portraits, such as his work depicting Sir James Mitchell and Miss Jessica Harcourt.
- Landscapes created during extended trips to New Zealand in the 1940s and 1950s.
- Still life subjects.
In addition to his Archibald Prize win, he received the National Gallery of Victoria Award in 1941 and won the Albury Art Prize twice, in 1950 and 1963. He was also a foundation member of the Australian Academy of Art. His autobiography, So far: The art of Ernest Buckmaster, was published in 1951.
