He worked for Time magazine for more than three decades but was best known for his best-selling book "The Fatal Shore," about Australia.

Renowned Australian art critic and historian Robert Hughes has died after a long illness. He was 74.

His publisher, Random House, says he died Monday in New York, where he had lived for many years.

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Hughes was best known for his best-selling epic book about Australia called The Fatal Shore, published in 1987. He wrote for Time magazine as art critic for more than three decades.

His eight-part documentary about art history, The Shock of the New, aired on BBC television and was seen by more than 25 million viewers. He later wrote a book based off the film that was well-received by critics.

Other books included the 2006 memoir Things I Didn't Know and last year's Rome, a personal history of the Italian city.