Unveiling spotlights a recently completed portrait commission or figurative work from some of the best and most active members of the Portrait Society of America. This month Krystle Stricklin, guest writer for the Portrait Society, interviewed Paul Newton about his recently completed portrait commission of Stephen Parry.

Unveiling

Paul Newton: Portrait of Australian Parliament President Stephen Parry

By Krystle Stricklin

This past March, Australian artist Paul Newton saw the unveiling of his most recent portrait commissioned to hang in the Parliament House in Canberra. The portrait is of former Australian Senate President the Hon. Stephen Parry, who was elected as a Senator for Tasmania in 2004 and reelected in 2010 and 2016. From 2014 to 2017, Parry served as Senate President across two Parliaments. Newton was commissioned by the Department of Parliamentary Services for the Historic Memorials Collection, Australia’s longest-running art commission program, which was founded in 1911. Senator the Honorable Stephen Parry - President of the Senate, oil on Belgian linen, 63 x 45½"

“Senior figures in the Australian Federal Government, such as the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate have an official portrait painting commissioned by the Commonwealth. These paintings are hung in Parliament House in Canberra to visually document the history of the Australian Parliament,” explains Newton.

On his choice of an outdoor setting for the work, Newton says, “Almost all of the portraits in Parliament House depict their subjects in indoors settings, and so when President Parry told me that part of his role as President included oversight of the Parliament House building, something he felt very passionate about, I thought that it would be an interesting departure from the norm to depict him outdoors and with Parliament House visible in the background.” Built in 1988, the Parliament House has a striking focal point—a large metal structure with a flagpole bearing the Australian flag. Newton chose to feature the structure and flag in the composition as a nod to Parry’s strong sense of service to the community and the nation.

The portrait of Parry is Newton’s third work for the Australian Parliament; the others were of Speaker Peter Slipper and Senate President Paul Calvert. The latter work was awarded Second Place in Portrait Society’s 2005 International Portrait Competition. Newton received an Exceptional Merit Award for his work Gina in this past year’s competition. He is also a 12-time finalist in Australia’s prestigious Archibald Prize and has won the Archibald Packing Room Prize twice.

His previous commissions include portraits of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Kylie Minogue and Australian rugby player David Campese. —