John Brack: 8 works

'Brack was born in Melbourne. After service in the Second World War he studied at the National Gallery School and lived in Melbourne for the remainder of his life.'

'This drawing was presented by the young John Brack to his friend Ursula Hoff, who was the Keeper of Prints at the National Gallery of Victoria from 1949.'

'In The bathroom he makes specific reference to the nudes at toilette of Pierre Bonnard. Brack wryly offers us an updated version of such scenes, inside a typical suburban Australian bathroom of the 1950s.'

'The following year he painted their portraits -- as well as one of his friend, Fred Williams.'

'John Brack painted Kym Bonython on commission in 1963.'

'corner, black oil "John Brack 69".'

'At the end of 1968, John Brack resigned as Head of the National Gallery School in Melbourne, where he had studied some 20 years earlier, to devote himself to full-time painting. With paintings such as Collins Street, 5 p.m.1955, he had established a reputation as an urban realist and social commentator, one who employed irony to make penetrating comments concerning the human condition.'

'John Brack's painting of Joan Croll was the first portrait he completed on commission; he made few more works to order, preferring to focus on family and friends who would not be disconcerted by his disinclination to flatter them.'