Sir William Dobell studied art in Sydney before leaving for Europe in 1929. On his return to Australia after a decade he managed to impress both conservative and modernist art factions with his powerful, expressive paintings. He won the Archibald Prize three times, although his first win, for his painting of Joshua Smith, was challenged by claims that it was a caricature, not a portrait. The court eventually found in Dobell’s favour.
A friend and patron of Dobell, Sir Charles Lloyd Jones – the grandson of the original David Jones, who founded the department store in Sydney in 1838 – commissioned the artist to paint several family portraits, including this one of his eldest son David Lloyd Jones (1931–1961). Charles Lloyd Jones was chairman of David Jones Ltd from 1920 until his death in 1958. David was 17 when his father began preparing him as his successor. In 1954, aged 23, he became the youngest director of David Jones in the firm’s history. Following his father’s death he became Deputy Chairman and joint Managing Director of David Jones Ltd; in 1960, he was appointed Chairman. A year later he died, aged 30, within weeks of being diagnosed with cancer.
Gift of David Lloyd Jones, in memory of his father, David Lloyd Jones 2021. Donated through Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© William Dobell/Copyright Agency, 2024
David Lloyd Jones (4 portraits)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Sarah Engledow on Messrs Dobell and MacMahon and the art of friendship.
Sir William Dobell painted the portraits of Sir Charles Lloyd Jones and Sir Hudson Fysh, who did much to promote the image of Australia in this country and abroad.
