Over the past century Sir William Dargie's name has become synonymous with Australia’s art heritage. His achievements and prestigious reputation saw him travel the world and the recognition he gained overseas and his appointments to many advisory committees for the Commonwealth Government gave him the opportunity to become a veritable torchbearer for Australia and its visual arts culture.

Sir William Dargie was born in Footscray, Melbourne in 1912. He was Australia’s most famous portrait painter and specialised in portrait and landscape painting. He studied art at the Melbourne Technical School, before beginning independent study and travel in Europe.

Dargie became Australia’s official war artist during the Sec...