Tributes from fellow artists, friends and politicians are flowing in after the death of internationally acclaimed artist Pro Hart from Broken Hill in far western New South Wales.
Artist, friend and Broken Hill local Jack Absalom says Hart was a generous man and will be missed.
"It's a very sad day matey because it's a terrible thing to wake up this time of the morning and this is the first news you get," he said.
"It's going to be a very sad day for all of Broken Hill because he was a very special person, probably the most generous man in the country."
Absalom says that there were also people who took advantage of him.
He says when Hart could have been doing a painting worth thousands of dollars, he would be painting something for a charity to auction.
Mr Absalom says a request for help was never refused.
"He was the biggest touch in Australia, no risk at all and even [all] of the galleries in the early days touched him," he said.
"Pro was scrupulously honest and all the smartest would come along to Pro and say 'Pro, look I have sold all those paintings, what do I owe you?' Pro didn't have a clue what they owed him."
Fellow artist Ken Done recalls meeting Hart at an exhibition of his at Broken Hill.
He says the brushmen of the bush, including Hart, spent time with him at a barbecue.
"They gave me a little tip actually, they were saying that if you're about 20 or 30 miles outside of Broken Hill and it's about sunset, one of the best ways to see the colours in the outback is to have quite a few beers, stand in the middle of the road, bend over and look at the sunset upside down between your legs - so there you are, there's an artist's tip," he said.
Broken Hill MP Peter Black has had a long association with Hart, who he says will be remembered as both an artist and an outstanding individual.
Mr Black says he did so much for so many people.
"For whatever millions he died with, he has given away far more to SIDS, for example, when he lost one of his grandchildren," he said.
"The list just goes on and on, [there are] so many people he's helped over so many years, I don't know where you'd begin to count."
Broken Hill Mayor Ron Page has also paid tribute to the artist.
"Pro's been a wonderful Broken Hill person, very generous man, very caring man, he cares about everyone else and he's been a outstanding citizen of our city," he said.
"He loves our city and we loved him. He treated us with kindness and friendship, whether we're rich, poor, famous.
"When you went to see Pro, you were a person and he treated you with respect."
Monash Gallery of Art director Jane Scott is the curator of Hart's retrospective exhibition which is currently touring the nation.
She says Hart was not always appreciated by the Australian arts establishment.
"He could be incredibly political and prickly about a whole range of issues, but that just made him all the more interesting," she said.
"I suspect now that the big state institutions will actually acquire Pro's work for the collections because I think he's going to stand the test of time."
Hart is to receive a state funeral in Broken Hill on Tuesday.
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