By the end of the 1920s, George Lambert was Australia's pre-eminent portrait artist for the wealthy and powerful. In the 1890s he had sketched for the Bulletin and branched out into landscapes in the celebratory manner of Tom Roberts and Frederick McCubbin. After achieving public success with the painting 'Across the Black Soils Plains' in 1899, he left Sydney for London. There he worked in portraiture receiving several prestigous commissions between 1911 and 1914, including that of Lord Beaverbrook. He was appointed war artist with the A.I.F. and worked in Palestine during the war. He returned to Australia to the acclaim of colleagues such as Lionel Lindsay.

This pencil sketch of Reid shows Lambert's renowned drawing skills. As Reid spent time in Australia, the Middle East and Britain between receiving his knighthood and posting as High Commissioner in 1909 and his death in 1917, it is not clear where this portrait was finished.

It is possible that this portrait was commissioned by Sir George or Lady Reid. If this was the case the drawing left the Reid family at some point in the following 50 years for the donor, Reid's grand daughter Anne Fairbairn, purchased the sketch in the 1970s.

Pencil drawing, portrait of Sir George Reid, 'Sir George Reid', paper/cardboard/chipboard, George Lambert, Australia, 1909-1918

Pencil sketch on cream coloured paper, shows the head and shoulders of a dignified Sir George Reid. He wears a suit, shirt with collar and tie. He appears rather portly, and is balding with a large moustache and round glasses. This portrait is signed by the artist George Lambert, however is undated. The portrait was possibly intended as a preparatory sketch for a painted portrait. It is mounted on a white board, surrounded by a black line within a second cream mount, which is then backed onto chipboard but unframed. The drawing shows the subject at some point in the last decade of his life after receiving his knighthood in 1909 and posting as Australia's first High Commissioner in London. From 1916, Reid was a member of the British House of Commons. He died in 1918. Name of sitter and name of artist in black pencil beneath the pencil sketch within the image area, written 'Sir Geo Reid. G M Lambert'.

Designer: Lambert, George; Australia

Maker: Lambert, George; Australia; 1909 - 1918


User: Reid, George; Australia

Owner: Reid, George; Australia

Name of sitter and name of artist in black pencil beneath the pencil sketch within the image area, written 'Sir Geo Reid. G M Lambert'.

97/232/1

653 mm

8 mm