Event details
Join us for a special Tonalism painting demonstration with conservator John Perry.
John Perry will demonstrate how to achieve realistic skin tones by painting in oils on a unique Meldrum palette and then transferring those tones to the canvas. Participants will also learn how to use a small black mirror to assess the tonal values in the correct order of perception - a key method practiced during the Tonalism movement.
The major exhibition ‘Australian Tonalism: A Selection from the John and Peter Perry Collection’ at Town Hall Gallery will be open for viewing during this event.
Free, bookings essential.
This event is part of our Art+ program.
About the exhibition
Australian Tonalism: A Selection from the John and Peter Perry Collection
Discover the artistic legacy of Max Meldrum (1875–1955) in this exhibition showcasing the lifelong dedication of John and Peter Perry to collecting works by this pioneering Australian artist and his influential school. Meldrum, a key figure in 20th-century Australian art, revolutionised the painting scene between the two World Wars, creating a distinctive style that has left a lasting imprint on the nation’s artistic landscape.
The exhibition features a selection of works from a collection of over 320 pieces, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, and etchings. Highlights include landscapes from both France and Australia, still lifes, portraits and animal studies - all embodying the unique approach of Meldrum and his followers. The ‘Meldrumites’ – a talented group of artists such as A M E Bale, Clarice Beckett, Colin Colahan and Polly Hurry – were deeply influenced by Meldrum’s teachings, and their works are also prominently featured. Many of these artists either lived or worked in the area now known as the City of Boroondara.
Accessibility at this space
Accessibility features include:
- accessible car parking
- accessible drop-off area
- automatic doors
- accessible toilets
- ramps
- clear signage
- lifts
- quiet areas
- wide passageways.
Image credit: A D Colquhoun, ‘Portrait of a Young Girl (Alma Figuerola), 1924, oil on canvas, 61.2 x 50.5 cm, image courtesy of the John and Peter Perry Collection.