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Antonio Dattilo Rubbo Paintings: The 2 Most Famous, Through a Gallery's Eye
Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 2 works by Antonio Dattilo Rubbo in our catalogue
In short
To the gallery's eye, Antonio Dattilo Rubbo's most famous painting is Self portrait (1924), whose original hangs in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. Of the 2 works by Antonio Dattilo Rubbo in our catalog, the gallery presents the 2 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.
1870 – 1955, Naples
Most works: Art Gallery of New South Wales
The gallery's top 10 Antonio Dattilo Rubbo paintings
The museums that keep Antonio Dattilo Rubbo's originals
The museum that holds the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Antonio Dattilo Rubbo | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Art Gallery of New South Wales |
Sydney | 2 | Self portrait, Mlle Alice |
Antonio Dattilo Rubbo, the signature paintings of each year
Antonio Dattilo Rubbo's career on this page runs 14 years, 1924 to 1937: each year appears here with its most famous originals.
Works per year
Pick a year to see its originals.
Antonio Dattilo Rubbo's paintings: the gallery answers
Which Antonio Dattilo Rubbo painting is the most famous of all?Reveal the answer
Self portrait (1924).
How old was Antonio Dattilo Rubbo on completing Self portrait?Reveal the answer
54 years old: Self portrait dates from 1924, and Antonio Dattilo Rubbo was born in 1870.
How many works did Antonio Dattilo Rubbo create?Reveal the answer
Our catalog holds 2 works by Antonio Dattilo Rubbo, dated from 1924 to 1937.
Where do Antonio Dattilo Rubbo's most famous originals hang?Reveal the answer
Mostly in Art Gallery of New South Wales (Sydney). The museum table above lists them all.
Which are Antonio Dattilo Rubbo's earliest and latest famous works?Reveal the answer
On this page, the earliest is Self portrait (1924) and the latest Mlle Alice (1937).
Which Antonio Dattilo Rubbo originals does the Art Gallery of New South Wales hold?Reveal the answer
Self portrait and Mlle Alice: the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney holds 2 of the works on this page.
Antonio Dattilo Rubbo: the artist
The Neapolitan Roots of a New Vision
Naples provides the first scene. The Royal Academy of Fine Arts serves as the training ground where Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo refines his technical foundation. His early years are shaped by the classical rigor of Italian instruction, yet a restlessness begins to take hold. This is not a story of static tradition, but of movement across oceans.
The transition occurs in the early 20th century. Dattilo-Rubbo migrates to Australia, carrying with him the weight of European modernist ideas. He arrives in a landscape where the visual arts are on the cusp of a significant shift. The arrival of his perspective brings a direct connection to the post-impressionist currents flowing through Europe.
The Architect of Australian Modernism
The classroom becomes his most influential stage. Dattilo-Rubbo does not merely paint; he instructs, shaping the very direction of Australian art through various institutions. He teaches at the Royal Art Society and the Sydney Art School, but it is through his own schools that his influence spreads most deeply.
He acts as a catalyst for change. By embracing bold, progressive ideas, he pushes his students away from established norms. The impact of his teaching philosophy is visible in the work of a new generation:
His presence in Sydney marks a period where European modernism begins to take root in Australian soil. He provides the bridge between the old academy and the new, avant-garde spirit.