The legacies of Bernard Smith : essays on Australian art, history and cultural politics

It has been widely asserted that Bernard Smith established the discipline of art history in Australia. He was the founding professor of contemporary art and the directory of the Power Institute at the University of Sydney, published the classic art text Australian Painting, three volumes on the art of Captain Cook's voyages, and two memoirs. His work was seminal for histories of Pacific encounter and he also authored some of the country's most eloquent memoirs. This publication brings together international academics from a range of disciplines to focus on everything Bernard Smith left his mark on: Antipodean and European envisioning of the Pacific, the definition of Australian art, gallery scholarship and public art education, museological practice, art criticism, Australian art biography and local heritage. Contributions from: Jaynie Anderson; Andrew Sayers; Robert W. Gaston; Nicholas Thomas; Rdiger Joppien; Kathleen Davidson; Terry Smith; Peter Beilharz; Catherine Speck; Paul Giles; Simon Pierse; John Clark; Steven Miller; Joanna Mendelssohn; Christopher R. Marshall; Jim Berryman; Ann Stephen; Max Solling; Kate Challis; Sheridan Palmer; Catherine De Lorenzo; Ian McLean ‘An elegant and powerful study, finely crafted – fully worthy of its subject.’ Peter Beilharz, Curtin University, PerthBernard Smith began life as a ward of the State; he would go on to become the father of Australian art history. In 2008 Smith invited writer and art historian Dr Sheridan Palmer to write his biography. Through years of interviews and exclusive access to Smith’s papers and library, Palmer reveals the unique character of an exceptional man.Read Andrew Fuhrmann's review from the Sydney Morning Herald hereListen to Sheridan Palmer's int "Perth Bernard Smith began life as a ward of the State; he would go on to become the father of Australian art history. In 2008 Smith invited writer and art historian Dr Sheridan Palmer to write his biography. Through years of interviews and exclusive access to Smith's papers and library, Palmer reveals the unique character of an exceptional man."--Provided by publisher