Arnold Shore

1897 - 1963

Quick facts

  • Museums on this site:
    • Art Gallery of New South Wales
    • National Gallery of Victoria
  • Also known as: Arnold Joseph Victor Shore
  • Copyright status: Under copyright
  • Lifespan: 66 years
  • Born: 1897, Windsor, Australia
  • Art period: Modern

The Life and Art of Arnold Shore

Arnold Joseph Victor Shore was an Australian painter, teacher, and critic. Born in Windsor, Australia, he began his professional journey as a designer and maker of stained glass at Brooks, Robinson & Co. Ltd in North Melbourne. During this period, he befriended the artist William Frater, and together they were among the first to experiment with modernism in Melbourne. After the death of his mother, Shore moved to Mount Macedon to paint the surrounding landscape. He later lived in Hawthorn with his wife, Agnes Vivien Scott.

His artistic training included studying under Frederick McCubbin at the Victorian National Gallery School and later training with Max Meldrum. Shore's style evolved as he abandoned tonalism in favor of Post-Impressionist styles. He was a foundation member of the Contemporary Art Group and established the Bell-Shore School with George Bell. As an educator, he served as a Guide Lecturer at the National Gallery of Victoria and mentored several artists.

Style and Recognition

Shore's work is characterized by a spontaneous post-impressionist style used to depict the Australian bush, still-life, and portraits. His paintings are noted for a freshness of color, atmosphere, light, and a lush texture of roughly laid on paint. His contributions to the art world were recognized through various honors, including:

Beyond his canvas, Shore was a prominent art critic for publications such as The Sun News-Pictorial, The Argus, and The Age. He also authored a monograph on Tom Roberts and a brief autobiography. His works are held in numerous collections, including the National Gallery of Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria.

Questions & Answers

Where can I find statistics about Arnold Shore's works?

A Stats page exists for Arnold Shore, presenting statistics about the artist's artworks on this website.

Where are Arnold Shore's artworks grouped by keywords?

To find works by Arnold Shore on a specific theme, use the artist's By Keywords page, which groups the artworks by keyword.

Is there a 3D virtual tour of Arnold Shore's works?

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

Where is Arnold Shore from?

Arnold Shore was born in Australia.

Quick quiz

There is only one correct answer for each question.

Question 1:
In which city was Arnold Shore born?
Question 2:
Which artist did Shore study under in evening classes at the Victorian National Gallery School?
Question 3:
What was Arnold Shore's occupation in addition to being a painter?
Question 4:
Which organization did Shore serve as president for from 1958 to 1961?
Question 5:
Which artist's monograph did Shore write, which was published posthumously in 1964?