William Dobell Exhibition at Carrick Hill: In the south eastern suburbs of Adelaide City region of South Australia

A collection of the works by one of Australia's greatest painters, William Dobell is currently on show at Carrick Hill and, in a way there’s not better place.

Sir Edward Hayward, the one time owner of John Martin's Department store was a wealthy patron of the arts and to this day his former home, Carrick Hill, remains a monument to his love of the finer things in life.

Sir Edward was no stranger to controversy and he bought into plenty of that when he purchased Dobell's painting of former friend and artist Joshua Smith.

This piece won William Dobell, the coveted prize for portraiture, the Archibald, in 1943 that set in train a row of epic proportions.

“The painting prompted a row in artistic circles - Was this a true reflection of Joshua Smith the man - or simply a caricature? A stunt as some of Dobell's critics described it?”

The detailed studies of Joshua Smith are proof of the lengths that William Dobell went to in capturing the essence of his subject. The modernists loved the fact that the Archibald Prize had gone to a painting that was less representational and a little more abstract. But those who dipped out on a win were quick to claim the portrait looked nothing like the man.

“On the other hand the Conservatives and particularly a group of artists who felt a bit miffed about not having won it themselves, decided that they wanted to take the Trustees of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, who are the prize givers to task saying basically that it was a caricature.

They took it to court. The actual prize was awarded in 1943 and the exhibition was in early 1944. It grew in fame right round Australia and people came to the Art Gallery of New South Wales in their absolute droves.”

The vitriolic court case proved a godsend for the tabloid cartoonists but a living nightmare for those in the eye of the artistic storm.

“The outcome was that the Trustees decision was upheld. But the outcome, in fact, was that Dobell became very ill and Joshua Smith never recovered either. So for the people concerned it was a most traumatic experience.”

The painting is the most famous portrait in Australian art history and possibly one of the most jinxed. Dobell sold it to the Haywards in 1948 but a fire at Carrick Hill a decade later destroyed much of the west wing and with it many of the Hayward's prized pieces. The portrait was badly damaged and later restored and is now back at its former home until June 28th. (2003)

Jane Hylton has also written a book on William Dobell's controversial career. It's available from Wakefield Press.