Sketch for the Opening of the First Parliament

"Sketch for the Opening of the First Parliament" is a monumental genre painting by Australian artist Tom Roberts, created in 1903. Measuring approximately 10 by 17 feet, this work vividly captures the historic 1901 event when Prince George, Duke of Cornwall and York, officially opened the first Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building. Roberts’s Impressionist-inspired style utilizes loose brushwork and bright color to convey the festive atmosphere of the occasion. The painting is famously known as The Big Picture and offers a lively, detailed snapshot of Australia's political genesis.