Justin O'Brien
This catalogue accompanies a long-awaited survey exhibition celebrating the life's work of a much admired Australian artist, Justin O'Brien (1917-1996). O'Brien is best known for his colourful and exuberant depictions of religious themes inspired by his biblical knowledge and the faith from which he had drifted and to which he later returned. He was the inaugural winner of the Blake Prize for Religious Art in 1951 and his painting 'The raising of Lazarus' was acquired by the Vatican. Justin O'Brien: The Sacred Music Of Colour also reveals a number of other key aspects of O'Brien's work: his commanding use of colour and form and the sumptuous detail of his still lifes, landscapes and portraits, including those of students he taught during his years as art master at Cranbrook School and of his fellow prisoners of war. Bringing together his paintings, watercolours and drawings with essays, an exhibition history, biographical notes and photographs of the artist himself, it brings to light works of intense beauty and harmony. Also included is an extract from the transcript of one of O'Brien's famous walks leading guests through Rome.