Born in 1931 in China, Chua Mia Tee emigrated to Singapore in 1937. A graduate from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1957, Chua is a highly regarded master of portrait painting. He has painted prominent public figures, including presidents and prime ministers of Singapore. Besides portraiture, Chua also paints nationalistic and local scenes of Singapore which serve as historical documentation of the nation’s changing landscape. The Command House was the official residence of the commander of the British military forces in Singapore. After Singapore’s independence, it served as the residence of the Speaker of Parliament for a period of time. This painting was commissioned by former President Ong Teng Cheong and depicts the front view of the stately building and the flower-lined path leading up to it.
