*Ø* Dobell, Smith and Aussie prejudice, '40s style


September 24, 1899 Sir William Dobell (d. May 13, 1970), Australian artist whose name will forever be linked to that of his friend, Joshua Smith.

In 1943 Dobell won Australia’s most prestigious award for portraiture, the often controversial Archibald Prize, for a painting (right) of fellow artist, Smith.

Amid claims that the painting was a caricature and not a portrait, a highly celebrated and acrimonious court case eventuated, in which lawyers drew attention to Smith's non-movie star visage. How could the portrait be a caricature, it was asked, when Smith really had those odd looks? And that was just from the lawyer's on Dobell's side.

The public curiosity, or, rather, prurience, was heightened by the subtle nuances of the sexuality of Dobell and his friend. Dobell was vindicated, but some scholars say that both Smith and Dobell were ruined in health by the case.

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