Archibald Finalist

St Cuthbert’s College Art Teacher Mr Martin Ball was shortlisted for the 2010 Archibald Prize. This is the fourth time that he has been a finalist for this popular, prestigious and sometimes controversial Australian portraiture prize.
“It’s a great thrill to get into the show as it’s such a prestigious event,” said Martin, “and to have work showing at a major international venue like the Art Gallery of New South Wales is wonderful.”
Martin’s submission was his portrait of New Zealand artist Jacqueline Fahey. Born in 1929, she was in the vanguard of feminism and became a distinguished painter, novelist and memoirist.

The Archibald Prize has a long history. In 1900, Bulletin magazine founder John Feltham Archibald – by then a Trustee for the Art Gallery of New South Wales – commissioned Melbourne artist John Longstaff to paint a portrait of poet Henry Lawson for fifty guineas. Apparently he was so pleased with the result that he left money in his will for an annual portrait prize.
Since its inception in 1921, the Archibald Prize has been awarded to artists of the stature of George Lambert, William Dobell and Brett Whiteley. The recently announced winner this year (Sam Leach for his portrait of musician Tim Minchin) receives $50,000.
As a four-time Archibald finalist, Martin Ball is in good company and the College is delighted to have an artist of his calibre and eminence on the teaching staff.