W B McInnes Mother and son

The subjects of this portrait by WB McInnes are his wife, the artist Violet McInnes (nee Musgrave, 1892–1968), and their son Geoff. The portrait is painted in the family home – an arts and crafts–styled villa that was designed by architect Harold Desbrowe Annear – in the Melbourne suburb of Alphington.

Art in Australia thought the painting ‘a much finer piece of work’ than the portrait of Desbrowe Annear for which McInnes won the inaugural Archibald Prize.

McInnes also entered a third work – a self-portrait.

The current whereabouts of this portrait is unknown.