
William Westall was the artist on board the Investigator as it circumnavigated Australia between 1801 and 1803 under the command of Matthew Flinders. Westall survived a shipwreck, and found the coast ‘barren’, rather than ‘picturesque’: ‘I am sorry to say the voyage to New Holland has not answered my expectations in any one way.’ This self-portrait was painted about 1820, the year he was married. To view a further selection of Westall artworks, in addition to the ones featured below, visit the National Library of Australia pictures catalogue.