Prime Minister Scott Morrison's likeness has been captured by a Canberra artist, the stunningly realistic portrait brought to life in a studio in Tuggeranong.
Gordon artist Ross Townsend spent an hour with Mr Morrison at the Lodge in December, taking sketchings and photographs to create the portrait of the PM, relaxed and smiling in a chair.
He then returned to the Lodge a couple of months later to unveil the finished work, the Prime Minister happy with the likeness Mr Townsend had captured.
"I think he was surprised how real it looked," he said.
The painting is now under consideration for the 2020 Archibald Prize.
Mr Townsend is an experienced portraitist and his past subjects have included Canberra Raiders legend Laurie Daley, Australian of the Year Professor Ian Frazer, ex- Wallabies great Nick Farr-Jones and retired yellow Wiggle Greg Page. A portrait of his mother Jeanne was a finalist in the 2018 Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award.
"I thought 'I hadn't done the portraits of too many politicians so I'll write to the Prime Minister's office and see how I go'," he said.
"They eventually got back to me. He was happy with my work, my realistic portraits, so we arranged the meeting with him."
Mr Townsend's calling card is not only his incredibly accurate portrayals but the manner in which he injects personality and life into his work, seen again in the portrait of Mr Morrison, in the lopsided smile, the relaxed folding of the hands, even in the luxurious folds of the jacket, the PM adamant he wanted to wear a suit.
"I've shown all my family and friends and they've all said, 'You've really captured him'," Mr Townsend said.
He said the PM was happy to pose, not fidgeting or appearing to want to be somewhere else.
"He's obviously busy because he's the prime minister. He said he had meetings and other things on. He allocated that time with me and I had some ideas about different subject poses and I discussed those ideas with him and he liked that particular one I painted, looking relaxed but in full suit and tie," Mr Townsend said.
The painting has been delivered to the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney for consideration for the 99th annual Archibald Prize.
The popular prize is given each year to the portrait judged the best, "preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics".
Mr Townsend said he didn't think about his chances of being selected or winning the Archibald, saying it was all so subjective.
"It's a bit of a lottery to be honest. I just enjoy the whole process of meeting someone new, especially someone of that calibre and I enjoy actually doing the painting and taking it up to the Archibald, meeting other artists, it's all pretty exciting," he said.
Parliament House displays portraits of Australia's prime ministers in chronological order in Members' Hall.
There is not yet one of Mr Morrison. Would Mr Townsend offer up his work when the time came?
"I guess I would but I think that's up to others to decide," he said.
Finalists for the $100,000 2020 Archibald Prize will be announced on September 17. The winner will be announced on September 25.
