RODNEY POPLE
St Mary's Cathedral at 4am
oil on wooden board 113 x 89.5 cm
© the artist
Allens Arthur Robinson was delighted to once again sponsor the New South Wales Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize in 2009.
The term 'en plein air' refers to the practice of painting outdoors, engaging with nature and recording the transitory effects of light. Although it has a long history in Europe, Australian artists have also established a strong tradition of painting 'en plein air', with the climate and landscape proving conducive to this style. The Impressionists of the late 19th century, including Arthur Streeton and Tom Roberts, spent much of their time painting outdoors, while Fred Williams was a great master of landscape painting in the 20th century.
The New South Wales Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize, which is now in its second year and carries an acquisitive prize of $20,000, aims to recognise this great and often overlooked aspect of Australian painting. The exhibition was held in the NSW Parliament building during May 2009 and the winning work enters the permanent collection of the NSW Parliament.
New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees and
Allens Chairman Ewen Crouch awarded the 2009 prize to
Marrickville artist Rodney Pople for his plein air artwork,
St Mary's Cathedral at 4am.
Mr Crouch told the 180 guests at the awards ceremony at the
State Parliament that Allens' sponsorship of the award continued
the firm's 30 year commitment to supporting Australian artists
through both sponsorships and its own art collection.
'If we are to be creative and innovative in what we do, then we
need to be surrounded by stimulating art work,' said Mr Crouch.
Allens Arthur Robinson's sponsorship of this important painting prize reflects our commitment to Australian art, as reflected in our significant collection developed since the mid-1970s of more than 1000 unique and challenging works by Australian artists. The Allens Arthur Robinson collection has today grown to become a significant survey of painting over the last three decades, reflecting the passion of former partner Hugh Jamieson, who established the collection.
By sponsoring The New South Wales Parliament Plein Air Prize, Allens Arthur Robinson is continuing its ongoing support of working artists and encouraging the development of Australian cultural expression.
For more information on The New South Wales Parliament Plein Air Prize, please visit http://www.pleinair.com.au.
To learn more about the Allens art collection, go to http://www.aar.com.au/art/index.htm.
