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William Dargie Most Popular Paintings

The 11 artworks by William Dargie our visitors look at most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one.

Edition 2026 · 11 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide William Dargie · 1912 – 2003

Lt-General The Hon Edmund Herring, KBC, DSO, MC, ED, William Dargie

1945 · Australian War Memorial, Canberra · original 91.8 x 76.6cm

View the most popular artwork of William Dargie ranked #1: Lt-General The Hon Edmund Herring, KBC, DSO, MC, ED

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 11 artworks by William Dargie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$35377 × 92 cm Commission at original size

Sir Macfarlane Burnet (1960) by William Dargie

1960 · National Portrait Gallery, Canberra · original 107.5 x 81.7cm

View the most popular artwork of William Dargie ranked #2: Sir Macfarlane Burnet

Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 11 artworks by William Dargie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17526 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$40482 × 108 cm Commission at original size

William Dargie: Sir James Balderstone

1989 · National Portrait Gallery, Canberra

View the most popular artwork of William Dargie ranked #3: Sir James Balderstone

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 11 artworks by William Dargie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$27537 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

La Perouse (1947) by William Dargie

1947 · Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney

View the most popular artwork of William Dargie ranked #4: La Perouse

Art Movement: Academic Realism

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 11 artworks by William Dargie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17537 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Albert Namatjira by William Dargie

1958 · National Portrait Gallery, Canberra · original 100 x 85 cm

Explore Albert Namatjira’s iconic portrait by William Dargie (1958). A stunning oil painting capturing an Arrernte man & landscape, reflecting Australian art history.

View the most popular artwork of William Dargie ranked #5: Albert Namatjira

Art Movement: Contemporary Realism
Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 11 artworks by William Dargie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$39585 × 100 cm Commission at original size

Yellow couch (1952)

1952 · Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney

View the most popular artwork of William Dargie ranked #6: Yellow couch

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 11 artworks by William Dargie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17539 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

Evening, Hampstead Heath, 1956, William Dargie

1956 · Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney

View the most popular artwork of William Dargie ranked #7: Evening, Hampstead Heath

Color Palette: Pastels

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 11 artworks by William Dargie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17527 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Bertrand J. Waterhouse OBE, FRIBA, LFRAIA by William Dargie, 1958

1958 · Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney

View the most popular artwork of William Dargie ranked #8: Bertrand J. Waterhouse OBE, FRIBA, LFRAIA

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 11 artworks by William Dargie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17538 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

D.A.S. Campbell (David Alexander Stewart Campbell) (1963) by William Dargie

1963 · National Portrait Gallery, Canberra · original 76.0 x 61.0cm

View the most popular artwork of William Dargie ranked #9: D.A.S. Campbell (David Alexander Stewart Campbell)

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 11 artworks by William Dargie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17539 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$28276 × 61 cm Commission at original size

Irish girl

Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney

Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 11 artworks by William Dargie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17538 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

Heather

National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne · original 91.6 x 71.4cm

Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 11 artworks by William Dargie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17545 × 22 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$33892 × 71 cm Commission at original size

The artist

William Dargie

1912 – 2003

Quick facts

Color intensitymonochromatic, balanced
NationalityAustralia
Art periodModern
Copyright statusUnder copyright
Born1912, Footscray, Australia
Also known asWilliam Alexander Dargie, William A. Dargie, W. A. Dargie, Уильям Дарджи
Works on APS11

Biography

Early Life and Education

Born: June 4, 1912, Footscray, Australia
Parents: Andrew Dargie and Adelaide (née Sargent)
Siblings: Younger brother, Horrie Dargie (musician)
Early schooling in Walhalla and Erica, Victoria.
Studied at the National Gallery of Victoria School from 1930 to 1934.

World War II and Early Career

Served as an official Australian war artist during World War II (1941-1945).
Documented events in the Middle East, New Guinea, India, and Burma.
Created over 500 paintings, drawings, and sketches for the Australian War Memorial.
Painted portraits of significant figures including Lieutenant-General Sir Edmund Herring (won the 1945 Archibald Prize).

Portraiture and Recognition

Known primarily for his portrait paintings.
Won the prestigious Archibald Prize eight times (1941, 1942, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1952, 1956) – a record.
Painted multiple portraits of Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia.
Created official portraits of two Prime Ministers and two Governors-General of Australia.
Worked in a conservative style, often depicting prominent Australians with dignity and realism.

Later Life and Legacy

Served as head of the National Gallery School from 1946 to 1953.
Member of various gallery boards and councils.
Despite significant achievements, Dargie is now largely forgotten by mainstream art history.
His paintings are held in collections including the National Gallery of Victoria and the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
Influence: While his style was conservative, Dargie's skill in portraiture and his dedication to documenting Australian life during wartime contributed to the development of Australian art. His work reflects a period of national identity formation and commemoration.

Key Works and Collections

Albert Namatjira Portrait (1958): A notable oil painting depicting Albert Namatjira, an Arrernte artist.
Portraits of Elizabeth II: Several official portraits commissioned by the Australian government.
Official Portraits of Prime Ministers and Governors-General: Documenting key figures in Australian politics.
Australian War Memorial Collection: A significant collection of his wartime works, including sketches and paintings.

Questions & Answers

How do I find works by William Dargie in a specific palette?

The By Palettes page groups William Dargie's artworks by their color palettes.

Where can I see William Dargie's artworks in a 3D gallery?

A virtual visit is possible: the 3D Museum page of William Dargie presents the artist's works in a three-dimensional gallery.

Is there an overview of all the subjects William Dargie painted?

The Subject Atlas page maps William Dargie's artworks by subject.

By the ArtsDot.com Editorial Team Updated Sept. 2, 2026

Collector's quiz

Where was William Alexander Dargie born?
What role did Dargie serve during World War II?
How many times did William Dargie win the Archibald Prize?
Which prominent Australian figure did Dargie paint multiple portraits of?

one You choose the size

Standard formats or any custom dimension, matched to the proportions of the original.

two We paint and send a preview

A photo of the finished canvas for your approval before it is shipped.

three Delivered, certified

Rolled, stretched or framed, insured, with a certificate of authenticity.

Commission your William Dargie

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All artworks by William Dargie