"Every time I paint a portrait, I lose a friend." — John Singer Sargent
Virginia Trioli, journalist and presenter, has been captured on canvas by artist Stieg Persson for the 2026 Archibald Prize—and the portrait has been shortlisted. The work, titled "Virginia and Cora," includes Trioli’s dog, Cora, and was painted entirely from life, as required by Archibald Prize rules.
A Sit with a Friend
Trioli sat for Persson, a contemporary artist and longtime friend, in a process that blends intimacy with artistic rigor. This is not her first experience with the Archibald: she previously sat for a portrait by John Campbell, which was not selected but hung in the Salon des Refuses.
The Archibald Prize, founded in 1921 by JF Archibald, awards the best portrait of a distinguished person in art, letters, science, or politics. Works must be painted from life within a specific timeframe.
Trioli describes the prize as "an event that draws public attention to painting," noting its power to bring contemporary portraiture into everyday conversations.
What the Portrait Contains
Persson’s work is layered with meaning. The painting includes symbols of Melbourne and a design by Martin Grant, weaving together personal and cultural references.
"Virginia and Cora" will tour regionally after its display in Sydney.
The Risks of the True Portrait
Reflecting on the process, Trioli recalls Sargent’s cautionary aphorism about the peril of sitting for a portrait. Yet for her, the experience with Persson was a collaboration—one that yielded a shortlisted artwork and a lasting image of herself alongside her beloved dog.
The portrait is a reminder of the enduring power of painting from life: a tradition that binds artist, subject, and public in a singular, unbroken gaze.