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Sir Walter Baldwin Spencer

George Washington Lambert1917 - 1921

Museums Victoria

Museums Victoria
Carlton, Australia

Walter Baldwin Spencer was an Australian archaeologist, the second Director of the National Museum of Victoria, and the foundation Professor of Biology at the University of Melbourne.This portrait, painted by George Lambert, was started in London in 1917 and completed in Melbourne in 1921.A non-commissioned portrait, painted 'for the mere fun of the thing', Lambert planned to offer it to the National Gallery of Victoria. Baldwin Spencer purchased for his own collection, after informing Lambert that the director of the gallery was planning to reject its acquisition.

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  • Title: Sir Walter Baldwin Spencer
  • Creator Lifespan: 1873 - 1930
  • Creator Nationality: Russian
  • Creator Gender: Male
  • Creator Death Place: New South Wales, Australia
  • Creator Birth Place: St Petersburg, Russia
  • Date Created: 1917 - 1921
  • Physical Dimensions: w714 x h912 mm
  • Type: Image
  • Rights: Copyright expired: Source: Museum Victoria / Artist: George Lambert, Copyright expired: Source: Museum Victoria / Artist: George Lambert
  • External Link: Museum Victoria
  • Medium: Painting; Oil on Canvas
  • Themes: painting
  • Artist biography: Born in St Petersburg, Russia, to an American father and English mother, George Washington Thomas Lambert emigrated to New South Wales with his mother and three sisters in 1886.From 1894 to1899 Lambert studied under Julian Ashton, first at the Art Society of New South Wales, then at the Academie Julien. He was awarded the first New South Wales travelling scholarship in 1900, and shortly after marrying Amy Absell on 4 September that year, set sail for London. Apart from a year living in France (1901-1902), Lambert spent the next 17 years in England. Lambert was appointed an official war artist by the Australian government in 1917. Attached to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) Lambert served in Palestine and Egypt. His appointment was terminated in 1920, though his passage to Australia in March 1921 was paid for by the Australian War Memorial (then located at the Exhibition Building in Melbourne). Lambert set up his studio in Randwick, Sydney, where he worked until his sudden death in 1930.He was awarded the 1927 Archibald Prize for his portrait of Mrs Annie Murdoch.
  • Artist: Mr George Washington Thomas Lambert
Museums Victoria

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