Hugh Ramsay
Self portrait with glasses
Glasgow born, Hugh Ramsay arrived with his family in Victoria in
1878. Considered to be one of Australia's finest tonalist
painters Ramsay trained at the National Gallery School (1895-99)
before setting out for Europe in 1900. On arriving in Paris,
Ramsay decided that he would have to "reinvent" himself and within
two years he was invited to exhibit at the New
Salon. Unfortunately ill health intervened and Ramsay
returned to Australia in 1902 where he died of tuberculosis
four years later at the age of 28.
This self portrait is one of more than two dozen self portraits
known to have been painted by the artist, who was often too poor to
hire other sitters. Using a restricted colour scheme
Ramsay aimed to realize a three dimensional space in which
the sitter was an element. This version, which was one of his
last and the only one in which he is wearing glasses, is an
excellent example.