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Fifteen years after painting gay footballer Ian Roberts, Ross Watson has achieved national and international status as an artist whose work explores the tension between the hidden and the overt, man and landscape, body and machine. 
In his Midsumma 2010 exhibition – Classic De Novo II – Watson examines themes of mentoring and isolation, incorporating Australia’s greatest and most respected gay role models.  Olympic gold medallist diver Matthew Mitcham, former High Court Judge Michael Kirby and Marco Da Silva have all modelled for the internationally acclaimed artist, whose work is collected by the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria and Sir Elton John.
The paintings reference classical masterpieces, including Caravaggio and Vermeer, which provide the settings for the narratives and contemporary subjects. Watson is the first to paint Matthew Mitcham after inviting the Olympian to choose his favourite classical reference from past artists before modelling. Mitcham chose Fall of Phaeton (1703-4) by Sebastiano Ricci, regarded as one of the first examples of true baroque art in Venice. Classic De Novo II at the Ross Watson Gallery, 465 Nicholson St, Carlton North, until February 7, 2010. midsumma.org.au rosswatson.com Pictured:
1. Untitled 21/09 (after Ricci, 1700; featuring Matthew Mitcham), Ross Watson, Oil on board, 90cm x 76cm
2. Matthew Mitcham models for the painting.
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Brand new classics
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