Judy Cassab Mungo MacCallum

The subject of this portrait by Judy Cassab is the journalist, novelist and poet Mungo Ballardie MacCallum (1913-1999). This work is now in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra.

Due to building works at the Art Gallery of NSW, there was no Archibald Prize 1968 exhibition so no selection of finalists for display. This portrait by Cassab was one of four works shortlisted by the judges for the prize. Only the winner – William Pidgeon’s portrait of artist Lloyd Rees – was hung at the Gallery, along with winning works from the Wynne and Sulman Prize competitions.

Cassab’s portrait was included in a separate exhibition that was held at the Telegraph Home Centre, Sydney, in January 1969, featuring a small number of what the Telegraph newspaper called ‘specially selected “rejects“’ from all three competitions.