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.
