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Christopher Allen has been The Australian’s national art critic since 2008. He is an art historian and educator, teaching classical Greek and Latin. He has written an edited several books including Art in Australia and believes that the history of art in this country is often underestimated.

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Review

MUST CREDIT: SUPPLIED... William BLAKE Dante running from the Three Beasts (1824-1827) illustration for The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri (Inferno I, 1-90) pen and ink and watercolour over pencil and black chalk 37.3 x 52.8 cm (sheet) Butlin 812.1; Butlin & Gott 3 National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Felton Bequest, 1920 988-3 From the exhibition: 04 Apr 2014 31 Aug 2014 NGV International 04 Apr 2014 31 Aug 2014 To be used in conjunction with exhibition only; not to be cropped, overprinted, altered Picture: Supplied

Divine imagery

CONTRARY to the persistent myth, artists are not generally ignored in their lifetime.

Christopher Allen

Visual Arts

Face to face with a life

THE supersized-portrait fad seems to be passing in favour of more intimacy.

Christopher Allen

Review

MUST CREDIT: Supplied... Buleleng regency, Bali, Indonesia Scenes from the Mahabharata; valance for a temple or pavilion [ider-ider] (detail) late 19th century silk, dyes, gold thread, tinsel, sequins, glass beads, cotton; appliqu , embroidery, couching 40 x 337 cm National Gallery of Australia, Canberra Gift of Michael and Mary Abbott 1988 From the exhibition: Bali: Island of the Gods National Gallery of Australia 13 June 2014 3 August 2014 To be used in conjunction with exhibition only; not to be cropped, overprinted, altered; must credit Picture: Supplied

Divine relics of far-flung isles

THE National Gallery of Australia’s Bali and Polynesian exhibitions are rather surprisingly presented as a symmetrical pair.

Christopher Allen

Arts

Allen’s 10 Aussie artists of the era

AS The Australian celebrates 50 years, our art critic Christopher Allen has named his 10 artists of the era. Do you agree with his choices?

Christopher Allen

Review

MUST CREDIT: SUPPLIED... MACQUEEN, Kenneth Australia b.1897 d.1960 Ploughing the boundary 1928 Watercolour with pencil, heightened with white on paper adhered to cardboard 38.8 x 48.5cm 38.4 x 39cm (comp.) Acc. 2002.131 Purchased 2002 with funds from Leighton Contractors Pty Limited through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation From the exhibition: Transparent: Watercolour in Queensland 1850 1980s Queensland Art Gallery 22 March 20 July 2014 Media images: Images may be used for media use only in relation to the exhibition. Captions must accompany all images reproduced. No images can be cropped, bled off the page, or printed in a single colour other than black, or overlaid with text. Single use, must credit Picture: Supplied

Misty memories

SOME idea of the process of painting with watercolours is indispensable if one is to appreciate the Transparent exhibition at the Queensland Art Gallery.

Christopher Allen

Review

Shearing the Rams by Tom Roberts. Painting. Artwork.

Human canvas

SASHA Grishin’s new book, Australian Art: A History is huge yet it would be hard to argue it is too long: it is the scale the subject demands.

Christopher Allen

Review

6) Artist unknown, Untitled (Historical scene) 18th century University Art Collection, University of Sydney donated through the Hon R P Meagher bequest 2011. re: Fugitive ex Picture: Supplied

Drawn in by the enigma

THE University of Sydney Art Gallery is showing, for the first time, a fine smaller collection of works.

Christopher Allen

Review

6) Artist unknown, Untitled (Historical scene) 18th century University Art Collection, University of Sydney donated through ...

Drawn in by the enigma

THE University of Sydney Art Gallery is showing, for the first time, a fine smaller collection of works.

Christopher Allen

Review

Human canvas

SASHA Grishin’s new book, Australian Art: A History is huge yet it would be hard to argue it is too long: it is the scale the subject demands.

Christopher Allen

Review

MUST CREDIT: SUPPLIED...ONE TIME USE... Thomas WATLING Scot. b.1762, Aust. 1792 1797, d. c.1814 A native man standing in an attitude very common to them all 1792 97 watercolour on paper Natural History Museum, London (Watling drawing No. 48) From the exhibition: For Auld Lang Syne: Images of Scottish Australia from First Fleet to Federation Art Gallery of Ballarat April 11 to July 27 2014 To be used in conjunction with exhibition only; not to be altered, overprinted etc; must credit Picture: Supplied

The high road to Ballarat

A FASCINATING exhibition in Ballarat explores the role of Scottish artists in our colonial history.

Christopher Allen

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/christopher-allen/page/63