The same portrait submitted to the present-day prize would almost certainly not be selected.
The country’s oldest art prize is awarded for best landscape painting of Australian scenery or figure sculpture.
Here are the best of the works that were rejected for the nation’s most famous art prize.
A semi-nude portrait of Sydney performance artist Betty Grumble didn’t make the cut for this year’s Archibald Prize,but has been hung at the SH Ervin Gallery’s Salon des Refusés.
Jules Francois Archibald wooed Rosa Frankenstein in London. But he was not what he seemed.
One-half of the electronic pop duo Electric Fields,Zaachariaha Fielding,said he was humbled and honoured to be awarded the Wynne Prize.
It’s clear the organisers are more determined than ever to market the Archibald and Wynne Prizes as cutting-edge contemporary events.
It’s arguably the biggest day on the arts calendar in Australia and this year’s pool of finalists was suitably impressive. Look back over our live coverage of the big announcement.
Zaachariaha Fielding claimed the Wynne Prize for best landscape painting,and the Sulman Prize went to Doris Bush Nungarrayi for Mamunya ngalyananyi (Monster coming).
Unbeknownst to nearly everyone at South Sydney,star duo Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker travelled to the tiny Indigenous community of Cabbage Tree Island on Thursday.
From the Packing Room to the portrait that will tug at your heart,read all of our Archibald 2023 coverage.