Keith Looby's 1988 Archibald Prize finalist portrait of Blanche d'Alpuget is a famous two-part artwork that also features her longtime love and former Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke.
The Split Portrait:
The diptych consists of two distinct canvas halves that capture a crucial chapter of Australian political and romantic history.
The Structure: The outstanding portrait was painted in 1988 by the highly acclaimed (and often controversial) Australian artist Keith Looby. It features Blanche d'Alpuget in the main section, while Bob Hawke occupies the upper half.
The Separation: Following its exhibition in the 1988 Archibald Prize, the two halves of the painting were separated and kept in entirely different locations for decades.
The Reunion: In September 2026, the two halves were finally reunited after being delivered from Looby's personal collection. The intention was to show the complete, reassembled portrait to d'Alpuget one last time; however, she away at age 82 just as the
