DAYLESFORD artist Basil Eliades can lay claim to painting the last ever portrait of Malcolm Fraser - something he says has completely changed the trajectory of the work.
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In the oil painting, Eliades challenges people to contemplate the varied perspectives of the former prime minister - something he has always been fascinated in.
Over years, he watched as Mr Fraser's values changed; and as he turned from a perceived tyrant to a figure of respect and admiration.
It was these ever-changing values and perceptions that inspired his cubist interpretation piece.
"More perspectives of Malcolm Fraser first started taking shape some years ago and evolved over time," Eliades said.
"I wasn't really happy with the original portrait and it sat in the racks in my studio for years until Mr Fraser first started criticising John Howard and he was suddenly interesting again.
"I was very aware of the changing public perspective of who he was and the painting changed as a result."
Eliades has always been interested in multiple perspectives, completing his masters thesis in the very subject.
He said it was about thinking through the many meanings and possibilities of a particular thing, of which Mr Fraser was perfect.
"His values changed over his time as prime minister and this was really interesting to me," Eliades said.
"This work is more than a physical representation, because I'm not really interested in surfaces or jaw lines, but rather the energy of something and how something works."
Eliades only had one sitting with Mr Fraser, after he refused to sit any longer.
"Mr Fraser wanted to know what it would look like when it was finished, what style and format it would take.
"I said I didn't know and he said, well, no more sittings then.
"When he saw the final product, I think he was fairly happy with how it turned out.
"Now in death, this painting means more than ever."
And remarkably, it hasn't been the only "final portrait" Eliades has completed.
"I also painted the last portrait of Richard Pratt and Margaret Carnegie but let's not publicise that too widely," he laughed.
"I'm not sure the people I'm painting right now will feel all that comfortable with my track record."
The portrait will be on display at The Convent in Daylesford for a month.
