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AME Bale Travelling Scholarship and Art Prize 2020 winners

Artist Edward Essing was announced as the 2020 winner of the prestigious $50,000 A.M.E Bale Travelling Scholarship, managed by Perpetual as trustee of the Alice Marian Ellen Bale Art Foundation Trust.

The A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship and Art Prize is awarded biennially to emerging Australian artists who have demonstrated talent and achievement in traditional styles.

This prestigious art prize is intended to encourage, support and advance classical training of emerging artists (in their early to mid-career) at any stage of life, who are pursuing the study and practice of traditional art and who desire to study the works of old masters.

Stil life
Edward Essing | Still life with paired objects | Oil on board | 29.5x42cm
Seated nude
Edward Essing | Seated nude | Charcoal and white chalk on paper | 59.5x42.5cm
Portrait
Edward Essing | Sandra | Oil on board | 60x45cm
Backyard, Florence Street
Edward Essing | Backyard, Florence Street | Oil on board | 60x45cm

In addition to the main Travelling Scholarship, two art prizes valued at $5,000 each are also awarded biennially. The 2020 A.M.E. Bale Art Prize in the medium of oils and/or acrylics was awarded to Rosy Lloyd for her painting Portrait of T.C and the 2020 A.M.E. Bale Art Prize for works on paper was given to Joe Whyte for his work titled Frank.

Portait
Rosy Lloyd | Portrait of TC | Oil on canvas | 37x31cm
Figure study
Joe Whyte | Frank | Pencil | 40x27cm

The judging panel is comprised through the Twenty Melbourne Painters Society Inc who provide expert assistance to Perpetual as the trustee in judging the award, taking into consideration the implementation of both the spirit and letter of Miss Bale’s will. 

The works by the Award winners are featured in the exhibition of finalists which showcases the impressive works by the artists selected by the judging panel in the Major Award Travelling Scholarship, Oils or Acrylics and Works on Paper categories.  

A.M.E Bale

A.M.E. Bale was born in Melbourne in 1875 and studied art under Frederick McCubbin and L Bernard Hall at the National Gallery Art School in Melbourne. She developed a reputation as a fine artist who distinguished herself particularly as one of Australia’s pre-eminent flower and still life painters of the early 20th Century. She established the A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship and Art Prize through her will to support Australian artists in perpetuity.

View the exhibition of finalists online