Known as a colossal teacher of drawing, Dattilo-Rubbo’s teaching life lasted 43 years with many notable Australian artists passing through his studio, including Grace Cossington Smith, Margaret Coen, Frank Hinder, Roy de Maistre, John Olsen, Alison Rehfisch, and Roland Wakelin. In turn, these students have influenced generations of artists to follow through teaching, mentoring, and friendship.

Originally trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Naples, Dattilo-Rubbo studied under two of Italy’s most influential 19th-century painters, Domenico Morelli (1823-1901) and Filippo Palizzi (1818-1899), both former students, professors, and then presidents of the revered Academy. Morelli, internationally lauded during his lifetime, and Palizzi, a celebrated master of realism, were life-long friends and collaborators who drove significant reform in the education of art.

Maestri, the Italian word for teacher, draws our attention to the power of teaching through the lens of 19th-century Neapolitan and 20th-century Australian art, connecting the techniques, attitudes, and ideas passed between teachers, students, and contemporaries.

This exhibition is a collaboration between MAG&M, the Consulate General of Italy in Sydney, and the Italian Cultural Institute, Sydney, with support from the Anita & Luca Belgiorno-Nettis Foundation, Avion International, MAG&M Society, and the Rubbo family.