Renowned Brisbane painter William Robinson AO has died aged 89.<\/p>\n
Robinson was twice awarded the Archibald Prize for portraiture and was highly praised for his paintings of south-east Queensland rainforests and northern New South Wales seascapes.<\/p>\n
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Robinson won his first Archibald Prize in 1987 for Equestrian Self-Portrait (ABC News: Matt Eaton)<\/p>\n
His work is displayed in major public art galleries across Australia, as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the British Museum.<\/p>\n
He died in hospital in Brisbane on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
‘Another way to look at portraiture’<\/p>\n
Long-time friend and colleague Phillip Bacon said Robinson would be remembered as one of Australia’s greatest painters.<\/p>\n
“He had a wonderful life, decades and decades of painting amazing pictures that are so loved by people,” he said.<\/p>\n
The Blue Pools, Springbrook to Beechmont by Robinson in 2000. (Supplied)<\/p>\n
“His work has made people look at the Australian landscape through his eyes.<\/p>\n
“The Archibald Prize-winning paintings make people think there’s another way to look at portraiture that doesn’t have to be dreary old men in grey suits.”<\/p>\n
Deeply felt relationships<\/p>\n
Robinson found inspiration in his wife, Shirley, who \u2014 despite never sitting as a portrait subject \u2014 appeared in his work from time to time.<\/p>\n