News

Vale John Schaeffer

Self-made businessman, John Schaeffer was arguably Australia’s greatest collector of Pre-Raphaelite art, his gifts to our state institutions leaving a legacy for generations.

16 Jul 2020

Gina Fairley

Visual Arts

John Schaeffer in 2017 with An athlete wrestling with a python 1888-91, by Lord Frederic Leighton, gift of John Schaeffer AO to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2017. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program. Photo: AGNSW, Christopher Snee.

The Sydney businessman and philanthropist tragically died this week, when he was hit by a Ford Ranger ute in Sydney’s CBD on Monday. He passed on 14 July, aged 79. The driver of the vehicle will appear in court in August.

Schaeffer’s death has shocked the art world. ‘He was probably one of our greatest arts patrons and he has never really been fully recognised for that,’ said art critic John McDonald in Sydney Morning Herald.

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Gina Fairley

Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's National Visual Arts Editor. For a decade she worked as a freelance writer and curator across Southeast Asia and was previously the Regional Contributing Editor for Hong Kong based magazines Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. Prior to writing she worked as an arts manager in America and Australia for 14 years, including the regional gallery, biennale and commercial sectors. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW. Twitter: @ginafairley Instagram: fairleygina