Portrait of John Minton

The sad eyes, vacant expression, and drab tones in this portrait capture the melancholy side of John Minton, who taught with Robert Buhler at the Royal College of Art in London. A superb illustrator, Minton never realised his aspirations as a painter. He suffered from bouts of severe depression and committed suicide in 1957.

The National Art Gallery’s London representative, Ernest Heber Thompson, purchased the portrait in 1953. Unlike Stanley Spencer’s work to the right, the painting was praised in the New Zealand press as an ‘outstanding’ purchase: ‘The portrait cannot, assuredly, be considered flattering, but it is a fine, sincere piece of work, and should strengthen the gallery’s portrait section.’