Historical information

Captain Sir William Alexander Dargie CBE (4 June 1912 – 26 July 2003) was a renowned Australian painter, known especially for his portrait paintings. He won the Archibald Prize, Australia's premier award for portrait artists on eight separate occasions; a record held since 1952. (Wikipedia)

Dr Sydney Lance Townsend (1913-1983) was appointed the University of Melbourne's first Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 1951. During his quarter of a century tenure of the chair, Professor Townsend oversaw tremendous growth in the clinical services, undergraduate and postgraduate education and research in Obstetrics and Gynaecolology at the Royal Women's Hospital and was a major national and international figure in the field over this period. In recognition of his contribution, which included the establishment of a second University of Melbourne Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and which was located at the Mercy Hospital for Women under the direction of his protégé, Professor Norman Beischer, Professor Townsend was knighted for his services to Obstetrics and Gynaecology. (Melbourne Medical School - History)

Physical description

Oil on canvas painting. Colour portrait of a man seated in a chair. The man is wearing a white shirt, dark suit, and blue bowtie, beneath a dark blue robe. The robe has light blue front panels and gold trim, with decorative buttons and gold stripes at the cuffs. The man has grey receding hair, dark rimmed glasses, and is facing the artist with his body angled towards the bottom right-hand corner. He is pictured against a dark grey background, with the corner of a bench or chair visible next to his left elbow. Signature painted at bottom left corner of portrait reads 'Dargie.' Brass plaque attached to back of painting frame is engraved with the text 'PROFESSOR S.L. TOWNSEND/ President - Chairman/AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL COUNCIL, RCOG/1963-1966'.