Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Robert Hughes (critic)

Role / Field:

Influential Australian art critic, writer, and historian known for sharp critiques.

Born:

1938-07-28

Died:

2012-08-06

Century / Era:

1938s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Robert Studley Forrest Hughes (28 July 1938 – 6 August 2012) was an Australian art critic, writer and producer of television documentaries. He was described in 1997 by Robert Boynton of The New York Times as "the most famous art critic in the world". Hughes earned widespread recognition for his book and television series on modern art, The Shock of the New, and for his longstanding position as art critic with TIME magazine. He is also known for his best seller The Fatal Shore (1986), a study of the British convict system in early Australian history.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Known for his contentious critiques of art and artists, Hughes was generally conservative in his tastes, although he did not belong to a particular philosophical camp. His writing was noted for its power and elegance. Hughes was born in Sydney in 1938. His father and paternal grandfather were lawyers. Hughes's father, Geoffrey Forrest Hughes, was a pilot in the First World War, with later careers as a solicitor and company director.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He died from lung cancer when Robert was aged 12. His mother was Margaret Eyre Sealy, née Vidal. His elder brother was Australian politician Tom Hughes, the father of former Sydney Lord Mayor...

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Frequently Asked Questions about Robert Hughes (critic)