We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Art Gallery of NSW stands.

Mary Cecil Allen (Lady Chauvel)

oil

This is one of two works entered by Mary Cecil Allen into the inaugural Archibald Prize. The subject is thought to be Sybil Campbell Chauvel (1888-1979), wife of Henry George (Harry) Chauvel (1865-1945), a senior officer of the Australian Imperial Force in the First World War.

Although there are no official records of the sitter, there are newspaper references. An article in The Daily Telegraph of 16 January 1922 about the Archibald exhibition states: ‘A study of Lady Chauvel by Miss Mary Allen is a good example of free brush work but is not remarkable as a portrait’.