The Big Picture
Tom Roberts · 1903
Why it's great
Hundreds of people in formal clothes gather in a huge hall in Melbourne in 1901 as the first Parliament of Australia is opened. Tom Roberts spent years painting 269 portraits of the guests. The nickname 'The Big Picture' is well earned, as the canvas is huge. It's a record of the birth of a nation.
Where to see it
📍 Parliament HouseCanberra, Australia
Open in Maps ↗Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Tom Roberts was born in England and moved to Australia as a teenager. He was one of the leaders of the Heidelberg School, and he painted some of the most famous pictures of Australian life, including 'Shearing the Rams'. He died in 1931.
