Painter,
sculptor and teacher Arthur Murch (1902–1989) won the Archibald Prize
in 1949. Writer Ria Murch (1918–2014) worked as a cadet journalist at
2UE before joining the Sun
newspaper. In 1940, the 22-year-old was writing a story about the
Ballets Russes when she met Murch, who was drawing the dancers. The
attraction was irresistible; they married in 1941 and moved to Mona
Vale, where their first child was born. During the Second World War,
Arthur was an official war artist, working in Darwin and around the
Adelaide River. After his war service, they settled in Avalon, where
they built a house together. In 1954, Ria returned to work, while Arthur
looked after their two children. Both Ria and their children appear in
Murch’s paintings.
Margaret
Michaelis photographed Arthur (in his army clothes) and Ria in 1945 at 4
Delwood Close, Mona Vale. Delwood Close runs off Waterview Street,
dubbed the ‘mad half mile’ due to its concentration of artists, actors,
writers and poets. In October 1947 an article about the area featured in
the journal Australia, with photographs by Michaelis.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2015
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