Sir William (Bill) Dobell OBE (24 September 1899–13 May 1970) was a 20th-century Australian portrait and landscape artist. Dobell received the Archibald Prize, Australia's most prestigious prize for portrait artists, three times. His prizes were awarded in 1943, 1945 and 1948 for this image of Dr H.C. Alexander. Dobell was born in Melbourne and educated at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School. He worked as an illustrator and cartoonist before turning to full-time painting in 1932. During World War II he served in the army medical corps in Papua New Guinea and later in Japan. After returning home he continued to work mainly from life but also painted from photographs and studies of other people's paintings. He exhibited widely and won many awards during his career. After retiring from full-time painting in 1964, Dobell gave several lectures around Australia on art and artists' techniques. In 1967 he was made a member of the Royal Victorian Order. He died in Melbourne aged 63 years old.