Art for beginners: portraits, landscapes and sculpture

Learn about the origins and significance of portrait painting, landscape painting and sculpture in this three-part lecture series with Dr Michael Hill.

Exhibited since the 1920s, the Archibald and Wynne Prizes have been longstanding traditions at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, celebrating the work of exceptional contemporary artists in portraiture, landscape and figurative sculpture. These art forms are commonplace on gallery walls, but how did they develop as distinctive traditions?

Hill will explore the historical role of portrait painting and the role it plays now; how landscape painting evolved in European art history, and what alternative depictions exist in other art traditions. He’ll also examine how sculptors have created form throughout history, and what new materials are being used by contemporary artists.

Over three weeks, discover the work of artists including Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Casper David Friedrich, Berthe Morisot, WC Piguenit, Rover Thomas, Raphael and more.

Dr Michael Hill is the head of art history at the National Art School and national artistic advisor for Sculpture by the Sea. His research begins and ends with the Italian Baroque, with detours along the way to Australian sculpture and architectural theory, and the ecology of Sydney.