Description
This giclee print is the key to Tom Roberts’ historical painting, ‘The Opening of the First Parliament of the Commonwealth, 9th May, 1901‘ (1901–1903) which is one of the most iconic paintings by Australian artist Tom Roberts, a great figure in the development of Australian art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This key is a black and white sketch including the names of the 269 portraits of the people who attended the historic occasion, including the Governor-General, the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, and Australia’s first Prime Minister, Edmund Barton, depicted in the painting.
The painting commemorates the historic moment when the first Parliament of Australia met in Melbourne in 1901, marking the birth of the Commonwealth of Australia following its federation. The event was a symbolic turning point in the country’s national identity, and Roberts captured it in a work that blends realism with national pride.
In ‘The Opening of the First Parliament’, Roberts combines both intimate and grand historical elements, portraying the ceremony with dramatic composition and vibrant colour. The painting is often seen as a visual declaration of the newly unified nation, with an emphasis on the ceremonial nature of the event. The central figures are carefully arranged, with the dignitaries, including the Governor-General and the Prime Minister, in the foreground, while the broader crowd and the grand architecture of the Parliament House in the background suggest the significance of the moment.
Tom Roberts was born in 1856 in England and immigrated to Australia as a child. He trained at the National Gallery School in Melbourne and spent several years in Europe, where he absorbed the influences of European artistic movements like Impressionism. By the 1880s, Roberts was an active participant in the Melbourne art scene, and his work often focused on Australian life and landscapes. He was a founding member of the Heidelberg School, a group of artists who sought to depict Australian scenes in a naturalistic style. Roberts’ work reflects his deep interest in capturing Australian identity and the transformation of the country. His ability to blend historical events with artistic innovation made him one of Australia’s most important and beloved artists.
