Buckmaster, Ernest

Ernest Buckmaster was born in Auburn, Victoria in 1897 and died in 1968.

He was a painter who studied at the National Gallery of Victoria School between 1918-1924.His panting style is characterised by a square brush stroke, partly as a result of his training with Bernard Hall and W.B.McInnes at the NGV School, and partly from admiration for Streeton’s later work. Buckmaster developed great facility early in his professional career.

Visiting Europe in 1930 and again in 1938, but did not study there. His paintings of flowers and landscapes gained great popularity, particularly in Victoria, South Australia and, later in New Zealand.

He painted 23 pictures for the Australian War Memorial, and in one year alone (in Perth, 1936) completed 11 portrait commissions. And earned a reputation as a polemicist, launching many attacks on modern art in letters to newspapers.

His son produced a book and presented an exhibition of his father’s work at Victoria State Parliament, in October, 1993.

He was the recipient of many awards and prizes including; Ramsay Prize for ‘painting from the nude’, NGV School, 1922; Archibald Prize, 1932; NGV Australian subject picture prize, 1941; Albury Prize, 1950 and 1963.

 He is represented in Australian state and regional galleries and public galleries in New Zealand.