William Pidgeon Lloyd Rees

Due to building works at the Gallery, there was no Archibald Prize 1968 exhibition so no selection of finalists for display.

Only the winner – William Pidgeon’s portrait of his close friend, artist Lloyd Rees (1895–1988)- was hung at the Gallery, along with winning works from the Wynne and Sulman Prize competitions.

The portrait had been commissioned by Lane Cove Council in Sydney, in whose collection it remains.

Pidgeon had initially started another version of the portrait before Rees indicated he wanted to wear a velveteen coat he had bought in Paris. Pidgeon started a fresh work, which is the one he submitted to the Archibald. The other portrait is now in the National Library of Australia, Canberra.