James Peter Quinn was an Australian portrait painter born in Melbourne.
Education
He studied part-time under Frederick McCubbin 1887–1999, at the Melbourne National School under George Folingsby and Bernard Hall 1889–1893, then in Paris at the Académie Julian and the École des Beaux-Arts from 1893–1901 under Jean Paul Laurens aided by a National of Victoria travelling scholarship.
Career
He spent time painting at the Etaples art colony in northern France, alongside other Australians including Rupert Bunny and Hilda Rix Nicholas. By 1904 he was a highly successful portrait painter and exhibited with the Royal Academy of Arts. He was commissioned to paint Joseph Chamberlain, the Duchess of York and the Duke of Windsor.
He was accredited official war artist for the First AIF during World War I, painting prominent officers in France (causing considerable friction with authorities and fellow artists).
In 1919 in London, Quinn painted General Sir John Monash, Commander in Chief of the Australian Corps. Monash, credited as the most resourceful and innovative General of WW1, planned and carried out with his 5 Australian Divisions, and the Canadian Corps on their right flank, the significant victory at the Battle of Amiens, 8 August 1918 - 0808 - which brought about the earlier than expected end to WW1.
Quinn"s portrait hung over the Monash-Bennett family mantel until recently loaned permanently to the Australian National Portrait, Canberra. This portrait, the family favourite, was the model for the Monash Medal awarded each year to an Outstanding Australian for her/his contribution in Leadership, Integrity and Service to the Australian community and beyond.
Then from 1919 Quinn worked with Canadian War Records, only returning to Australia in December 1935 after the death of son René.
In 1937, Quinn was elected president of the Victorian Art School, a position he held until his death in 1951, and taught at the National of Victoria Art School. A commemorative exhibition at the Victorian Centre of the Arts in 1980 enhanced his posthumous reputation.