A pair of unusual ship portraits by Reg Mathews who shot an killed a man in Timaru in 1920 and also shot a policeman in Lyttleton while trying to make good his escape. Both are extensively inscribed on the reverse.He was found guilty but his death sentence was commuted on the grounds of insanity.He spent the rest of his life in various mental institutions.They are painted in lampblack, laundry blue and milk of magnesia. He notes one one painting,"painted under difficult conditions by an ex member of the vessels crew" A news paper clipping on the reverse states that" he spent 60 years behind locked doors, 45 of those in solitary confinement".
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