Paul Delprat

Paul Ashton Delprat (1942 - ) is an Australian artist [ [http://www.julianashtonartschool.com.au/paul_ashton_delprat_artist.html Julian Ashton Art School] Retrieved 27.9.2007] and the Principal of The Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney, Australia's oldest continuous fine art school. [ [http://www.julianashtonartschool.com.au/ Julian Ashton Art School] Retrieved 27.9.2007] His art is represented in the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, State and Municipal Galleries and University and Private collections.

Early life

Delprat was born in Sydney, Australia, grandson of Julian Howard Ashton [ [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070117b.htm?hilite=Ashton Australian Dictionary of Biography: Ashton, Julian Howard (1877 - 1964)] Retrieved 27.9.2007] , great grandson of Julian Rossi Ashton CBE. [ [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070118b.htm?hilite=Ashton Australian Dictionary of Biography: Ashton, Julian Rossi (1851 - 1942)] Retrieved 27.9.2007] and great grandson of Guillaume Daniel Delprat CBE. [ [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080295b.htm?hilite=Delprat Australian Dictionary of Biography: Delprat, Guillaume Daniel (1856 - 1937)] Retrieved 27.9.2007] He first painted with his grandfather, Howard Ashton, and later gained a Diploma from the Julian Ashton Art School. During his student years Delprat won the Waratah Festival sculpture and drawing prizes and the Robert Le Gay Brereton Drawing Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. He studied art in Paris and London.

Art and teaching career

His work is held in the collections of the National Gallery of Australia and the BHP Billiton collections. Delprat has held over twenty one man exhibitions in Sydney and has also shown in all Australian state capitals and London. Exhib. the Archibald, Sulman and Wynne prizes. His portrait of Banjo Paterson hangs in The Banjo Paterson Library at Sydney Grammar School, his portrait of Rodney Seaborn at the Rodney Seaborn Library, NIDA, University of New South Wales, and his portrait of Lady Paquita Mawson in the Barr Smith Library at the University of Adelaide. He taught art at the Australian International Independent School, Sydney, was appointed art master at Newington College (1967-1970) [Newington Across the Years, A History of Newington College 1863-1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 333 ] before teaching at the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales. He became Principal of the Julian Ashton Art School in 1988. In 1990 he initiated the Scholarship Program at the school, which includes The Sir William Dobell, The John Olsen , The Brett Whiteley and The Art Express Scholarships.

Community involvement

Delprat is Patron of the Mosman Art Society [ [http://www.mosmanartsociety.org.au/ Mosman Art Society] Retrieved 27.9.2007] Patron of Portrait Artists Australia and a former Mosman Citizen of the Year, 1996. He is an Associate of the Royal Art Society of New South Wales.He has acted as a judge of art awards including the RAS, The Mosman Art Prize and throughout Australia. He has received an award for bushcare from Mosman Council.

The Principality of Wy

In 2004 The Principality of Wy was proclaimed. [ [http://www.mosman.nsw.gov.au/mosman/history/from-17882005 Mosman Municipal Council History] Retrieved 27.9.2007] His plans to build a driveway to access his property over an unbuilt road near Wyargine Reserve were approved in principle, but he encountered bureaucratic errors which had to be remedied by the local council. [Mosman Municipal Council files. [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/23/1074732605593.html?from=storyrhs Sydney Morning Herald] Retrieved 27.9.2007] After 11 years his application was rejected because of further bureaucratic errors, whereupon, in a ceremony at the Mosman, Town Hall his Declaration of Independence was accepted by the Mayor of Mosman in full regalia. He seceded from Mosman and now styles himself Prince Paul of Wy. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/Spike/Youre-kidding/2004/11/30/1101577485648.html Sydney Morning Herald] Retrieved 27.9.2007] Delprat's installation in commemoration of Wy, An Artistic Imperative, was described by the The Economist as a micro-secession.

Film work

For Age of Consent, starring Helen Mirren and James Mason, Delprat created paintings, drawings and sculptures of Helen Mirren for the motion picture, directed by Michael Powell, based on the novel by Norman Lindsay. In 1994 he created and the paintings and drawings of Elle McPherson, Portia De'Rossi and Kate Fisher for another Lindsay inspired film, directed by John Duigan, Sirens starring Sam Neil and Hugh Grant.

Illustrator

Delprat has published illustrations in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Bulletin and Quadrant, and has illustrated numerous Penguin books.

Bibliography

* Geoffrey Dutton The Beach
* Cedric Flower - Aspects of Australian Erotica
* Kym Bonython - Australian Painting
* Cedric Flower - Australian Artists
* The Australian Encyclopedia,
* The Etchings of Paul Delprat - Hilarie Lindsay
* The Naked Gourmet - Hilarie Lindsay
* History of Mosman - Gavin Souter
* Mosman Impressions - Mosman Municipal Council
* Mosman Art Society The First Years - Shirley Perrett

References

External links

* [http://www.principalityofwy.com An Artistic Imperative]