Pugh, Clifton (1924-1990), an Australian painter, won the Archibald Prize for portrait painting, one of Australia’s oldest and best-known visual arts awards, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australia, in 1965, 1971, and 1972. He became known for his love of the Australian bush and became an active conservationist in the 1960’s.
Clifton Ernest Pugh was born on Dec. 17, 1924, in Melbourne. He developed his natural flair for formal portrait painting at the National Gallery of Victoria while studying under the Australian painter Sir William Dargie from 1947 to 1950.
Pugh first caught the attention of the public with his powerful paintings of the Australian landscape, which he exhibited at the Victorian Artists’ Society in 1955. His later paintings incorporated native Australian wildlife into his landscapes. The animals were dramatically presented in the Postimpressionist manner, integrated with the somber bush environment. These works evolved from his travels in outlying bush country and central Australia.
Pugh developed his reputation as a portrait painter in the 1960’s. His subjects included academics, artists, politicians, and writers. The portraits were praised for their skill at capturing the likeness and character of their subjects. Pugh died on Oct. 14, 1990.
