Brack, John (1920-1999), an Australian painter and printmaker, became known for his precise and beautifully ordered compositions. These works had their origin in Brack’s extensive early studies of old masters and in the pointillist work of the French painter Georges Seurat (see Seurat, Georges ). From such masterpieces as Seurat’s Sunday Afternoon on the Island of Le Grand Jatte, Brack learned about the placement of accents in space, the importance of composing the work on a single, flat plane, and the value of selecting simple subjects close to home. His works include street and barroom scenes, weddings, ballroom dancers, gymnasts, race courses, nudes, and portraits.
Cecil John Brack was born on May 10, 1920, in Melbourne. He studied at the Melbourne National Gallery School and served as head of the school from 1962 to 1968. He died on Feb. 11, 1999.
