Portrait of William Whyte Cabena (Mayor 1918-19)
signed: "Geo A...Webb" in red
Gift of Mr. P.E.W Robertson, 1939
City of Melbourne Art and Heritage Collection
Mayoral portraits, William Whyte Cabena, c1920
Summary
Half length portrait of William Whyte Cabena
William Whyte Cabena was described as a ‘most dignified and smallish man’ with a resemblance to Edward VII. He was a dogmatic character, a shrewd businessman and staunch Presbyterian and Orangeman. In 1918 Cabena responded to the flying of the Sinn Fein Flag in the St Patrick’s Day March by ordering that the Union Jack and Australian Flag were flown and ‘God Save the King’ sung in the following year’s march. This decision provoked ongoing bitterness between the Council and Catholic community which led to the Council attempting to ban the St Patrick’s Day March in 1922. In June of that year the Full Court ruled that the Council by-law prohibiting such marches were invalid.
George Webb was born in England in 1861 and arrived in Adelaide in 1886. He became well known in Australia for his coastal and landscape scenes that were exhibited at the Victorian Artist’s Society. He was also commissioned to paint several portraits of notable figures from Victoria and South Australia.
This painting was originally a full length portrait and is thought to have been damaged in the 1925 Town Hall fire. Five other mayoral portraits by Webb were unfortunately destroyed in the fire.
