Portrait of John Batman c1934

MCINNES, William Beckwith

Registration number

1086791

Artist/maker

MCINNES, William Beckwith

Title

Portrait of John Batman

Production date

c1934

Medium

oil on canvas

Dimensions (H x W x D)

152.5 x 120 cm

Inscriptions

llc WB McINNES

Credit line

City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection

Keywords

William Beckwith McInnes, Portrait, John Batman, c1934

Summary

This portrait of John Batman, or more accurately of his descendant Leslie Weire, was commissioned as part of local centenary celebrations during 1934-35. The 1930s were the high point of Batman’s historical reputation. He is now widely acknowledged for his shameful treatment of Aboriginal people, including charges of murder in Tasmania. William Beckwith McInnes (1889-1939) was a Melbourne based artist active in the first half of the twentieth century. He won the Archibald Prize for portraiture seven times including the inaugural award in 1921.