Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 22 works by John Longstaff in our catalogue
In short
To the gallery's eye, John Longstaff's most famous painting is Portrait of Sir John Sulman (1931), whose original hangs in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. Julian Ashton (1898) and Portrait of John Ford Paterson (1896) complete the trio every eye recognises. Of the 22 works by John Longstaff in our catalog, the gallery presents the 22 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.
In this 1931 oil on canvas, we encounter Sir John Sulman not as a distant public figure, but as a man of profound introspection. The portrait captures the architect in a moment of stillness, seated centrally against a dark, indeterminate background that pushes his presence toward the viewer. There is a certain weight to his presence, a sense of historical permanence achieved through a somber and dignified composition. The lighting…
In this 1898 oil on canvas, John Longstaff captures Julian Ashton in a moment of quiet dignity. The subject sits before us, an older man whose presence fills the frame with a sense of settled authority. His thinning light hair catches the light, contrasting with the deep shadows that surround him. A prominent mustache defines his face, framing a mouth set in a serious, reflective expression. His blue eyes hold…
In this 1896 oil on canvas, we find ourselves in a quiet, intimate encounter with John Ford Paterson. The subject is positioned in profile, his head turned slightly toward the left, emerging from a deep, near-black field that swallows the periphery. There is a profound sense of stillness here. The light is highly directional, striking the man's cheekbone, the bridge of his nose, and his heavy mustache, while the rest…
In this 1925 oil portrait, we encounter Mr Maurice Moscovitch through a lens of quiet gravity. The subject, a Russian-born actor, meets our gaze with a contemplative expression that suggests a life lived under the scrutiny of the stage. There is a certain weight to his presence, captured in a bust-length composition that avoids the artifice of grandiosity. Instead, the focus remains fixed on the man himself, his features rendered…
The portrait titled Dr Alexander Leeper is a work by the artist John Longstaff. Executed in 1928, this piece is presented in a portrait format. The subject of the painting is Dr Alexander Leeper, depicted in a formal manner that captures his presence through a three-quarter length composition.
Arrival of Burke, Wills and King at the deserted camp at Cooper's Creek, Sunday evening, 21st April 1861 is a work by the Australian painter John Longstaff. Created about 1907, the oil on canvas captures a specific moment of exhaustion and missed connection in the Australian outback. The scene focuses on the arrival of the explorers at a camp that had been abandoned only hours prior.
The portrait of Henry Lawson by John Longstaff captures a man defined by the ink of his own making. Painted in 1900, this work presents the subject as a poet and short story writer, a man whose words helped shape the image of the Australian bushman. The likeness was rendered in Melbourne, a city of quiet industry during that era. It remains a singular study of a man who lived…
In this formal oil portrait, titled The Hon W A Holman, KC, we encounter a significant figure of the early twentieth century. The subject is W A Holman, KC, captured in a moment of quiet dignity. This work was executed by the Australian painter John Longstaff about 1929. It represents a period when Longstaff was a highly established presence in the art world, having already achieved significant recognition through his…
In this 1935 oil on canvas, an elderly man sits in a wooden armchair, positioned slightly off-center within a three-quarter length composition. He is dressed in a dark, formal three-piece suit, characterized by deep charcoal and black tones. A visible pocket watch chain hangs from his waistcoat, catching the light against the dark fabric. His hair is grey, and a prominent moustache covers his upper lip. The subject's face and…
James Cassius Williamson (1845–1913), actor and theatrical entrepreneur, worked and performed in theatres in his native Pennsylvania before coming to Victoria under contract to George Selth Coppin in 1874. Over twelve months, he and his comedienne wife became wealthy and famous. They returned overseas, but in 1879 they arrived in Australia having purchased from WS Gilbert the exclusive Australasian rights to perform HMS Pinafore. In 1880 Williamson formed his (Royal)…
Gippsland, Sunday night, February 20th, 18981898 · National Gallery of Victoria
12
H.M. Queen Alexandra in coronation robes1904 · Art Gallery of New South Wales
13
King Edward VII in coronation robes1904 · Art Gallery of New South Wales
14
Sombre landscapeArt Gallery of New South Wales
15
Miss Rose Scott1922 · Art Gallery of New South Wales
16
Norman Lindsay1931 · Art Gallery of New South Wales
17
Major General C.F. Cox CB CMG DSO VDArt Gallery of New South Wales
18
Portrait of Henry Colden Antill Harrison1929 · Melbourne Cricket Club Museum
19
Sir George ReidArt Gallery of New South Wales
20
Sir Herbert MaitlandArt Gallery of New South Wales
21
Sir Edward KnoxArt Gallery of New South Wales
22
Breaking the News1887 · Art Gallery of Western Australia
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The 5 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by John Longstaff | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Art Gallery of New South Wales |
Sydney | 14 | Portrait of Sir John Sulman, Julian Ashton, Portrait of John Ford Paterson |
 National Gallery of Victoria |
Melbourne | 4 | Mr Maurice Moscovitch, Dr Alexander Leeper, Arrival of Burke, Wills and King at the deserted camp at Cooper's Creek, Sunday evening, 21st April 1861 |
 National Portrait Gallery |
Canberra | 1 | J.C. Williamson |
 Melbourne Cricket Club Museum |
Хобърт | 1 | Portrait of Henry Colden Antill Harrison |
 Art Gallery of Western Australia |
1 | Breaking the News |
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
In this 1898 oil on canvas, John Longstaff captures Julian Ashton in a moment of quiet dignity. The subject sits before us, an older man whose presence fills the frame with a sense of settled authority. His thinning light hair catches the light, contrasting with the deep shadows that surround him. A prominent mustache defines his face, framing a mouth set in a serious, reflective expression. His blue eyes hold…
Arrival of Burke, Wills and King at the deserted camp at Cooper's Creek, Sunday evening, 21st April 1861 is a work by the Australian painter John Longstaff. Created about 1907, the oil on canvas captures a specific moment of exhaustion and missed connection in the Australian outback. The scene focuses on the arrival of the explorers at a camp that had been abandoned only hours prior.
James Cassius Williamson (1845–1913), actor and theatrical entrepreneur, worked and performed in theatres in his native Pennsylvania before coming to Victoria under contract to George Selth Coppin in 1874. Over twelve months, he and his comedienne wife became wealthy and famous. They returned overseas, but in 1879 they arrived in Australia having purchased from WS Gilbert the exclusive Australasian rights to perform HMS Pinafore. In 1880 Williamson formed his (Royal)…
In this 1925 oil portrait, we encounter Mr Maurice Moscovitch through a lens of quiet gravity. The subject, a Russian-born actor, meets our gaze with a contemplative expression that suggests a life lived under the scrutiny of the stage. There is a certain weight to his presence, captured in a bust-length composition that avoids the artifice of grandiosity. Instead, the focus remains fixed on the man himself, his features rendered…
In this 1931 oil on canvas, we encounter Sir John Sulman not as a distant public figure, but as a man of profound introspection. The portrait captures the architect in a moment of stillness, seated centrally against a dark, indeterminate background that pushes his presence toward the viewer. There is a certain weight to his presence, a sense of historical permanence achieved through a somber and dignified composition. The lighting…
Portrait of Sir John Sulman (1931), Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. Julian Ashton (1898) and Portrait of John Ford Paterson (1896) come next.
70 years old: Portrait of Sir John Sulman dates from 1931, and John Longstaff was born in 1861.
Portrait of Sir John Sulman, Julian Ashton, Portrait of John Ford Paterson, Mr Maurice Moscovitch, Dr Alexander Leeper, Arrival of Burke, Wills and King at the deserted camp at Cooper's Creek, Sunday evening, 21st April 1861, Henry Lawson, The Hon W A Holman, KC, Banjo Paterson and J.C. Williamson. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
Our catalog holds 22 works by John Longstaff, dated from 1887 to 1935.
Mostly in Art Gallery of New South Wales (Sydney), National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne) and National Portrait Gallery (Canberra). The museum table above lists them all.
In 1920s: 5 of the 22 works on this page were made then, Mr Maurice Moscovitch among them.
On this page, the earliest is Breaking the News (1887) and the latest Banjo Paterson (1935).
Man (9), Mustache (4) and Portrait (3), across the 22 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas, for 9 of the 22 works on this page.
Academic realism, judging by the originals on this page.
Portrait of Sir John Sulman, Julian Ashton and Portrait of John Ford Paterson: the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney holds 14 of the works on this page.
