Australian sculptor William Wallace Anderson was born on May 24, 1888, in the town of Creswick, Victoria. He was the son of a Scottish-born miner and was raised in the gold-mining town of Bendigo, where he began his education in art. He later studied at the National Gallery School in Melbourne, where he was taught by artists such as Frederick McCubbin and Emanuel Phillips Fox.
After completing his studies, Anderson moved to London, where he studied at the Royal Academy of Arts from 1913 to 1915. He then returned to Australia and established himself as a prominent sculptor, producing many notable works throughout his career.
Anderson's style was characterized by a focus on realism and a strong attention to detail. His works often depicted figures from Australian history, as well as animals and other natural subjects. He was also known for his portraits, which captured the likeness
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and character of his subjects with great precision.
One of Anderson's most famous works is the bronze statue of the racehorse Phar Lap, which he completed in 1932. The statue, which stands outside the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, is a tribute to the legendary horse that won many races in Australia and overseas.
Anderson was awarded many accolades during his career, including the Order of the British Empire in 1964 and the Australian War Memorial Prize in 1965. He continued to work as a sculptor until his death on November 27, 1975, in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn. His works can be found in public collections in Australia, including the National Gallery of Victoria and the Australian War Memorial.
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