Remembering Race Mathews: The Statesman Entwined in Melbourne’s Great Picasso Scandal

On May 5, 2025, Australia bid farewell to Dr. Race Mathews, a distinguished public servant whose career spanned local, state, and federal politics.

A state memorial held at Melbourne’s Arts Centre on May 23 commemorated his profound contributions to public life, including his pivotal role in one of Australia's most intriguing art mysteries—the 1986 theft of Picasso’s Weeping Woman from the National Gallery of Victoria

The 1986 Art Heist That Captivated a Nation

In August 1986, the National Gallery of Victoria faced an unprecedented crisis when Picasso’s Weeping Woman, then valued at $1.6 million, vanished from its walls.  A group calling themselves the "Australian Cultural Terrorists" claimed responsibility, issuing ransom letters to then-Arts Minister Race Mathews.  

Their demands included increased arts funding and the establishment of a new art prize, threatening to destroy the painting if unmet.  The letters were laced with insults, dubbing Mathews "Rank Mathews" and a "pompous fathead"  .

Seventeen days later, the painting was recovered unharmed from a locker at Spencer Street railway station.  Despite extensive investigations, the perpetrators were never identified, and the case remains one of Australia's most baffling unsolved art crimes  .

A Legacy Beyond the Scandal

While the Weeping Woman theft brought Mathews into an unexpected spotlight, his broader legacy is marked by significant reforms. As Minister for Police and Emergency Services, he introduced gun control measures and overhauled emergency response protocols following the devastating Ash Wednesday bushfires.  His tenure as Minister for Community Services saw advancements in child protection and community welfare  .

Mathews' dedication to public service extended beyond politics.  He was instrumental in establishing Medicare, advocating for cooperative economics, and promoting the arts.  His wife, Iola Mathews, chronicled his life's work in the biography Race Mathews: A Life in Politics  .

Final Farewell

Dr. Race Mathews passed away peacefully at the age of 90, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, reform, and unwavering commitment to the public good.  His role in the Weeping Woman saga remains a notable chapter in a life dedicated to service and the arts.