Rosie Batty AO (b. 1962), campaigner against family violence, became well known to the Australian public in early 2014, when her eleven-year-old son Luke was murdered by his father as she stood waiting to take him home from cricket practice. Increasingly erratic and aggressive over the years, his father was subject to a court order restricting his access to mother and son. After he killed Luke, police shot him; the next day, he died. Very soon after, Batty made a dignified public statement that stunned the nation. In 2015, she was Australian of the Year, using her position to call for widespread recognition of, and action on, domestic violence. The issue is now prominent in Australian public discourse, with various government initiatives, advertising campaigns, sports associations and charities maintaining the momentum. After meeting Batty, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews established Victoria's 2015 Royal Commission into Family Violence, which led to $2.7 billion in funding for prevention of violence and support for victims.
The first thing photographer Nikki Toole noticed when she met Batty were her eyes. Crystal blue, and reflecting strength and sorrow in equal measure. For the portrait, Toole wanted to capture the real Batty, with natural light and no retouching. The result is a raw, unflinching image that shows Batty's resilience and determination.
Commissioned with funds provided by the Circle of Friends 2017
© Nikki Toole
This glazed photographic portrait is large; 87cm by 74 cm with an approximately 4cm white card mount on all sides and then a 2cm wide black wooden frame
The face of an attractive, older woman with blonde hair and blue eyes emerges from what is otherwise a uniformly dark portrait. Her gaze is direct.
From below her chin to her waist, Rosie is swathed in a dark blue, voluminous cape that merges with the black background. The fabric of the cape is thick; areas of deeper shadow only vaguely suggestive of the contours of Rosie’s torso beneath.
Rosie is angled to her right. Her fine hair is highlighted many tones of blonde. Styled to obscure her ears and parted to right, it sweeps across her lined brow and above her right eye. It’s indeterminate length tucks into her collar. The up turned collar of her deep blue cape crisply frames the left side of Rosie’s jaw, contrasting with her blonde wispy hair on the right.
Rosie’s make up enhances an even pale complexion, high arched brown eyebrows and strikingly direct, crystal blue eyes. Her nose is straight and regular with deep lines under her cheeks emphasising her closed, pale pink mouth. Rosie has a dimple at the base of her chin.
Audio description written by Annette Twyman and voiced by Carol Wellman Walker
National Portrait Gallery Circle of Friends (8 portraits supported)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Tilman Ruff AO has focused his efforts on the prohibition of nuclear weapons.
Photographer Nikki Toole describes the creation of her portrait of Rosie Batty.
