John Longstaff

Who was John Longstaff?

Sir John Campbell Longstaff was an Australian painter, war artist and a five-time winner of the Archibald Prize. He was a cousin of Will Longstaff, also a painter.

Longstaff was born at Clunes, Victoria, second son of Ralph Longstaff, storekeeper and Janet Campbell. John was educated at a boarding school in Miners Rest and Clunes State Schooland. He later studied at the Melbourne National Gallery School, after his father initially disapproved of his artistic ambitions. Longstaff's talent was recognised by George Folingsby. He married Rosa Louisa Crocker 20 July 1887 Powlett Street East Melbourne, Victoria.

He won the National Gallery of Victoria's first travelling scholarship for his 1887 narrative painting Breaking the News, and John and his wife sailed from Melbourne for London on P&O's 4,600-ton 'Valetta' in September 1887. In January 1888 they travelled to Paris, where John exhibited in the Paris Salon. He later moved to London, where he painted many portraits. He returned to Australia in 1894 and was given several commissions. He occupied a studio at Grosvenor chambers in Melbourne from 1897 - 1900.