Encyclopedia

There were two separate commissioning schemes for artists during the First World War.

Ten Australian artists living in England received appointments for generally not more than three months and were expected to produce at least 25 drawings during this time. This scheme was administered by the Australian High Commission in London, with official war correspondent Charles Bean as adviser. These artists received honorary commissions as officers.

• George Bell (1878–1966)
• Charles Bryant (1883–1937)
• Will Dyson (1880–1938)
• A. Henry Fullwood (1863–1930)
• George Lambert (1873–1930)
• Fred Leist (1878–1945)
• John Longstaff (1862–1941)
• H. Septimus Power (1877–1951)
• James Quinn (1869–1951)
• Arthur Streeton (1867–1943)

Five artists already serving with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) were selected by Bean to be attached to the Australian War Records Section. (J. S. McDonald was also selected but ill health prevented him from taking up his appointment.) These artists are also official war artists, although they have previously been referred to as Australian War Records Section artists.

• George Benson (1886–1960)
• Frank Crozier (1883–1948)
• Will Longstaff (1879–1953)
• Louis McCubbin (1890–1952)
• James F. Scott (1877–1932)

Exhibitions

Up front - faces of Australia at war (on display 1998–2000)

Will Longstaff: art and remembrance (on dispay 2001–2002)

Shaping memory: sculpture at the Australian War Memorial (on display 2004)

George Lambert: Gallipoli and Palestine landscapes (on display from 2007)

Articles and publications

Up front: faces of Australia at war. Catalogue essay by Elena Taylor, 1998