George Washington Thomas Lambert (1873-1930), an esteemed artist, was born on September 13, 1873, in St. Petersburg. He was the fourth child and posthumous son of George Washington Lambert, an American railway engineer, and Annie Matilda Lambert (née Firth), from England. Shortly after his birth, the family relocated to Württemberg, Germany, and then to England, where Lambert received his education at Kingston College, Yeovil, Somerset.
In January 1887, Lambert and his family arrived in Sydney aboard the Bengal, settling at Eurobla, a sheep station near Warren owned by his great-uncle Robert Firth. After eight months, Lambert moved back to Sydney to work as a clerk at W. and A. McArthur & Co., and later at the Shipping Master's Office from 1889 to 1891. During this time, he attended night classes taught by Julian Ashton at the Art Society of New South Wales. Following a period working as a station-hand in the bush, Lambert developed a lasting affinity for rural themes and horses. Upon returning to Sydney, he met illustrator B. E. Minns, who encouraged him to pursue art. Lambert resumed Ashton's classes while working as a grocer’s assistant.
Lambert's early works were influenced by American illustrators and included contributions to the Bulletin starting in 1895, as well as illustrations for books published by Angus & Robertson. His first significant painting, "A Bush Idyll," emerged in 1896, followed by the award-winning "Across the Black Soil Plains" in 1899, which garnered the Wynne Prize and was acquired by the National Art Gallery of New South Wales.
In 1900, Lambert won the Society of Artists’ inaugural travelling art scholarship and married Amelia Beatrice (Amy) Absell, a retoucher, on September 4, 1900, at St. Thomas Church, North Sydney. They soon moved to England, then to Paris in early 1901, where Lambert studied at Colarossi's art school and the Atelier Delécluze, alongside artist Hugh Ramsay. Influenced by seventeenth-century masters and contemporary artists such as J. M. Whistler and John Singer Sargent, Lambert’s work from this period includes "The Sonnet" and "La Blanchisseuse."
Returning to London in November 1901, Lambert lived in various studios, including Rossetti Studios and 25 Glebe Place, Chelsea. His contributions included illustrations for Cassell's Magazine and the Pall Mall Magazine, and he supplemented his income by teaching at the London School of Art. His early portraits, displayed at the Royal Academy of Arts, were noted for their sober palettes and sophisticated handling of tone and texture.
In World War I, Lambert, unable to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force, joined a Voluntary Training Corps and later became an official war artist with the honorary rank of lieutenant. His work included sketches and paintings of significant events, such as "The Charge of the Light Horse at Beersheba." Despite health issues, his war art contributed significantly to the Australian War Memorial and the National Gallery of Victoria.
Returning to Australia in 1921, Lambert continued to focus on portraiture, with notable works including "Mrs Murdoch," which won the 1927 Archibald Prize. His portraits from the 1920s often reflect a growing disenchantment with this genre. Lambert also pursued sculpture, completing commissions for war memorials and statues, though his health was compromised by the physical demands of these projects.
Lambert died on May 29, 1930, at Cobbity, near Camden, and was buried in the Anglican section of South Head cemetery. His death was followed by the establishment of a memorial fund and exhibitions in his honor. His legacy includes his two sons: Maurice Lambert, a distinguished sculptor and Royal Academy associate, and Constant Lambert, a prominent composer and conductor. His works, including a self-portrait and a portrait by Longstaff, are housed in the galleries across Australia.