Sir William Dobell
(1899 - 1970) Australia
Painter
Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, Dobell was the youngest in a working-class family of three girls and three boys. At school Dobell showed some talent for drawing and later, as a young man, he preferred to pursue art rather than girls. In 1916 he began drafting work for a local architect and in 1923 moved to Sydney, drafting for a building supplies firm. In 1929 he won the Society of Artists' Travelling Scholarship which enabled him to study in London.
 This was Dobell's most creative period. From 1936 to 1938 the Australian artist Donald Riend lived nearby and the two shared their interest in music, art and men.
At the end of 1938 Dobell returned to Sydney and began part-time art teaching. In 1942 Dobell was appointed an official war artist. For a time he shared a tent with a younger artist, Joshua Smith. As a war artist Dobell depicted construction workers, lumpers and labourers involved in the war effort. His painting of male figures show both strength and beauty and sometimes wry humor.
Dobell is one of the most significant Australian artists, but his homosexuality was known only to a small circle of friends. Although Dobell's work is redolent with iconic homosexual reference and codification, in all the sources there are only brief references to his homosexuality. He was knighted in 1966 for his contribution to Australian art.
Excerpts from: Aldrich R. & Wotherspoon G., Who's Who in Gay and Lesbian History, from Antiquity to WWII, Routledge, London, 2001
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