Lloyd Rees AC CMG (1895 - 1988), artist, author and teacher, became well known as a young man for his meticulous, almost obsessively detailed, renderings of buildings around Brisbane. During trips to Europe in the 1920s, 1950s, 1960 and 1970s Rees was particularly struck by the countryside of Tuscany. His landscapes, rendered in an unpretentious style combining careful analysis, immediacy and sensuality, won wide recognition in both the public and the art world. Inevitably, his proficiency combined with his longevity to make him the 'grand old man' of Australian art in the 1980s. Morley first met the 88-year-old Rees when he was on his way to Desiderius Orban's 99th birthday lunch. He was struck by Rees's gentle zestiness, which was diminished somewhat the next time he saw him, after the death of his wife. This photograph was taken on the second occasion, through the window of Rees's studio, which was spattered and encrusted with the colours of Rees's career.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2003
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
Accession number: 2003.58
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Lewis Morley (49 portraits)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
Magda Keaney speaks with Lewis Morley about his photographic career and the major retrospective of his work on display at the NPG.
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