Elsa Middleton – Wife and Mother of Artists, 2021, oil on board, 40 x 30cm
“Clever, charming, resilient, and artistically gifted in her own right, my mother Elsa was the epicentre of our artistic family.
Born in 1937, Elsa was both nurturing and an adroit businesswoman who cast her keen, critical eye on the paintings of my father Max Middleton, and together they managed his successful career.
Mum created a tranquil home; a sanctuary immersed in nature. This was instrumental in developing my love of beauty and culture, and inspired my own career in art.
After a remarkable 54 years of marriage, my father passed. My portrait explores Mum’s sorrow and heartbreak.”
This painting was a semi-finalist in the 2021 Moran Portrait Prize