Nora Heysen AM (January 11, 1911 - December 30, 2003) was an Australian artist, the first woman to win the prestigious Archibald Prize for portraiture and the first Australian women appointed as an official war artist. The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service. The Order was established on February 14, 1975, when Queen Elizabeth II, acting in her capacity of Queen of Australia, signed Letters Patent... January 11 is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1911 was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... December 30 is the 364th day of the year (365th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 1 day remaining. ... 2003(MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Archibald Prize is regarded as the most important portraiture prize, and is the most prominent of all arts prizes, in Australia. ... War artists capture the experience of war in an artistic manner whilst based in the battlefield. ...

Heysen was the daughter of South Australian landscape painter Sir Hans Heysen. She began studying art in 1926, and sold paintings to the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Art Gallery of South Australia in 1930. Her first solo exhibition was held in Sydney in 1933. In 1934 she travelled to London with her family, remaining in Europe until 1937 studying and painting. When she returned to Australia she stayed briefly in Adelaide and then moved to Sydney. Motto: United for the Common Wealth Nickname: Festival State Other Australian states and territories Capital Adelaide Government Governor Premier Const. ... Sir Hans Heysen was a well-known Australian artist. ... The Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) is an art gallery, open to the public, and located in The Domain in Sydney, Australia. ... Sydney Harbour looking south from the vicinity of the Sydney Harbour Bridge towards the CBD skyline; the Opera House is visible in the background on the left. ...

In 1938 she entered two portraits in the Archibald Prize, her portrait of Madame Elink Schuurman was awarded the prize and she became the first woman to win the Archibald. On October 12, 1943 she became the first women to be appointed as an Australian war artist. "I was commissioned to depict the women’s war effort. There was that restriction on what I did. So I was lent around to all the services, the air force, the navy and the army, to depict the women working at everything they did during the war". ¹ During her service Heysen completed over 170 works of art and was discharged from service in 1946 in New Guinea.

While in New Guinea Nora met Dr Robert Black, whom she would marry in 1953. Following her discharge from war service she went to London, returning to Sydney in 1948. She continued to paint, exhibit and travel with her husband. In 1993 she was awarded the Australia Council’s Award for Achievement in the Arts and on January 26, 1998 she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to art.

Her works are held in the collections of the National Gallery of Australia, the Australian War Memorial, the National Library of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery and several state galleries. National Gallery of Australia The National Gallery of Australia is a major art gallery (museum) in Canberra, Australia. ... ANZAC Day Dawn Service at AWM, 25 April 2005, 90th anniversary The War Memorial is set amongst parkland The Australian War Memorial is Australias national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organizations who have died in the wars of the modern state of Australia. ... National Library of Australia The National Library of Australia is located in Canberra, Australia. ... The National Portrait Gallery of Australia is a collection of portraits of prominent Australians that are important in their field of endeavour or whose life sets them apart as an individual of long-term public interest. ...

Note 1: From an interview with Nora Heysen, August 25 1994, Oral History Collection National Library of Australia.

References

• Australian War Memorial. Fifty Australians, Nora Heyson
• National Library of Australia. 2001. Nora Heysen