Paul Delprat

Paul Delprat
Prince of Wy

Prince Paul and the Serene Family in the Forest of Wy – a 2005 painting by Samuel Wade
Reign 15 November 2004 –
Wife Susan Delprat
Born 1942 (age 72–73)

Paul Ashton Delprat (born 1942) is an Australian artist[1] and the Principal of The Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney's oldest continuous fine art school.[2] His art is held in the National Gallery of Australia and in state, municipal and university galleries as well as numerous private collections.

Early life

Delprat was born in Sydney, Australia, grandson of Julian Howard Ashton,[3] great grandson of Julian Ashton CBE[4] and great grandson of Guillaume Daniel Delprat CBE.[5] He first painted with his grandfather, Howard Ashton, and later gained a Diploma from the Julian Ashton Art School. During his student years Delprat won the Waratah Festival sculpture and drawing prizes and the Robert Le Gay Brereton Drawing Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. He studied art in Paris and London.

Art and teaching career

His work is held in the collections of the National Gallery of Australia and the BHP Billiton collections. Delprat has held over twenty one man exhibitions in Sydney and has also shown in all Australian state capitals and London. Exhib. the Archibald, Sulman and Wynne prizes. His portrait of Banjo Paterson hangs in The Banjo Paterson Library at Sydney Grammar School, his portrait of Rodney Seaborn at the Rodney Seaborn Library, NIDA, University of New South Wales, and his portrait of Lady Paquita Mawson in the Barr Smith Library at the University of Adelaide. He taught art at the Australian International Independent School, Sydney, was appointed art master at Newington College (1967–1970)[6] before teaching at the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales. He became Principal of the Julian Ashton Art School in 1988. In 1990 he initiated the Scholarship Program at the school, which includes The Sir William Dobell, The John Olsen, The Brett Whiteley and The Art Express Scholarships.

Community involvement

Delprat is Patron of the Mosman Art Society[7] Patron of Portrait Artists Australia and a former Mosman Citizen of the Year, 1996. He is an Associate of the Royal Art Society of New South Wales. He has acted as a judge of art awards including the RAS, The Mosman Art Prize and throughout Australia. He has received an award for bushcare from Mosman Council.

Principality of Wy

Main article: Principality of Wy

In 2004 The Principality of Wy was proclaimed.[8] Paul's plans to build a driveway to access his property over an un-built road near Wyargine Reserve were approved in principle, but he encountered bureaucratic errors which had to be remedied by the local council.[9] After 11 years his application was rejected because of further bureaucratic errors, whereupon, in a ceremony at the Mosman Town Hall, his Declaration of Independence was accepted by the Mayor of Mosman in full regalia. He seceded from Mosman and now styles himself Prince Paul of Wy.[10] Delprat's installation in commemoration of Wy, An Artistic Imperative, was described by the The Economist as a micro-secession.

Film work

For Age of Consent, starring Helen Mirren and James Mason, Delprat created paintings, drawings and sculptures of Helen Mirren for the motion picture, directed by Michael Powell, based on the novel by Norman Lindsay. In 1994, he created the paintings and drawings of Elle Macpherson, Portia de Rossi and Kate Fisher for another Lindsay inspired film, directed by John Duigan, Sirens starring Sam Neill and Hugh Grant.

Illustrator

Delprat has published illustrations in the The Sydney Morning Herald, The Bulletin and Quadrant, and has illustrated numerous Penguin Books.

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ Julian Ashton Art School Retrieved 27 September 2007
  2. ↑ Julian Ashton Art School Retrieved 27 September 2007
  3. ↑ Australian Dictionary of Biography: Ashton, Julian Howard (1877–1964) Retrieved 27 September 2007
  4. ↑ Australian Dictionary of Biography: Ashton, Julian Rossi (1851–1942) Retrieved 27 September 2007
  5. ↑ Australian Dictionary of Biography: Delprat, Guillaume Daniel (1856–1937) Retrieved 27 September 2007
  6. ↑ Newington Across the Years, A History of Newington College 1863–1998 (Syd, 1999) pp 333
  7. ↑ Mosman Art Society Retrieved 27 September 2007
  8. ↑ Mosman Municipal Council History Retrieved 27 September 2007
  9. ↑ Mosman Municipal Council files. Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 27 September 2007
  10. ↑ Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 27 September 2007

External links