The painting "Beneath the Arena" by Piloty was not on display at the Ballarat art gallery between 1944-1975. It was on loan to a convent.
It is learnt that Doctor Blake's mother was Genevieve Ettienne, a talented artist (although she is described in less flattering and misogynistic terms by the male curators in the story), and that she died some 40-odd years ago when he was 10.
The artists referenced in this story are the German painter, Karl-Theodor von Piloty (1826-1886) and his work, "Beneath The Arena" (1882), and the Ballarat-born Australian painter, David Davies (1864-1939).
Among the Australian Art Books pamphlets in Virginia McKay's room are "The Art & Life of David Davies", and "From A Distant Land David Davies" by Mark Nicholas.