Roy Fluke b. 1921

Also known as R. F., R. Fluke, Roy George Herbert Fluke, A. R. Fluke
  • Artist (Cartoonist / Illustrator),
  • Artist (Painter)
Late 20th century painter, cartoonist and soldier. This biography deals with Fluke's wartime cartoon parodying William Dobell's 1944 Archibald Prize entry - a portrait of Joshua Smith.

painter, cartoonist and soldier, drew a parody of Dobell’s portrait of Joshua Smith in 1944 while serving as a gunner in the AIF: “No.96, Aesthetically speaking, the portrait is an act of homage to Rembrandt…” 1944, brush and ink with blue wash over pencil, 36.7 × 25.2 cm, signed 'R.F.’ lower left and inscribed: 'NX 110293/ Gr Fluke/ 2/2 Aust. Fld Regt/ R.A.A.-A.I.F./ Australia’, with printer’s notes verso. In it the Joshua Smith subject is a soldier and two Diggers are viewing it. The winning Dobell portrait of Joshua Smith was, as the caption implies, catalogue number 96 in the Archibald exhibition for 1943. It is unknown if Fluke’s cartoon was ever published.

This entry is a stub. You can help the DAAO by submitting a biography.

Writers:
Kerr, Joan
Date written:
1996
Last updated:
2007