MAX RAGLESS - STUNNING RARELY OFFERED BY LISTED ARTIST

Max Ragless was born in 1901 in Adelaide. At school Max’s favourite subject was art and as a school boy he won a number of prizes in local Adelaide competitions.

When he left school Max went off to learn wool-classing so that he would have a specific role to play on his parents’ farm. While Max was working as a wool-classer on a sheep station on the River Murray the beautiful countryside inspired him to draw. At the age of 17, he met Hans Heysen, who encouraged him and then followed his career with interest and they became life-long friends.

After he returned to work on the family farm, he built a studio and began painting. When he married in 1932, his wife Mary encouraged him to paint in earnest. From 1932 to 1936, Max worked in his vineyard during the day and at night he printed his skilful intaglio prints, atmospheric etchings, aquatints and drypoints. These prints show the finesse of his printing techniques, and how adept he was at etching shades and tones. They are considered by many critics to be some of his finest work.

During World War II Max was a Camouflage Officer and was subsequently appointed an Official War Artist. There are 129 of his war paintings and drawings held in the Australian War Museum in Canberra.

He travelled extensively throughout Australia in search of fresh material and had a great love of the outback which is reflected in the richness of these works. Max continued to combine his work as a grape grower with his art until he sold the vineyard in 1957. He produced drawings, etchings, aquatints, watercolours and oils during his 50 year career.

He won many awards and prizes including the coveted Wynne Prize for Landscape. His work is represented in State, Commonwealth and Regional galleries as well as collections overseas.

Max Ragless is widely respected as one of Australia’s finest landscape artists of his time. After a brief battle with cancer, he died in 1981, aged 79.