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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Portraits for Posterity

Drawn from some of the many donations made to the Gallery's collection, the exhibition Portraits for Posterity pays homage both to the remarkable (and varied) group of Australians who are portrayed in the portraits and the generosity of the many donors who have presented them to the Gallery.

More information on Portraits for Posterity

Selected images

Portrait of Professor Graeme Clark

Portrait of Professor Graeme Clark, 2000 Peter Wegner. © Peter Wegner

Dame Joan Sutherland

Dame Joan Sutherland, c. 1977 Robert Hannaford AM. © Robert Hannaford/Copyright Agency, 2022

Sir George Coles

Sir George Coles, 1935 W B McInnes

Joan Croll

Joan Croll, 1976 John Brack. © Helen Brack

Edward Knox

Edward Knox, c. 1927-1929 W B McInnes

Lady Knox

Lady Knox, c. 1927-1929 W B McInnes

Colin McCahon, Auckland, New Zealand

Colin McCahon, Auckland, New Zealand, 1963 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/

Judy Davis on the set of 'Heatwave', Sydney

Judy Davis on the set of 'Heatwave', Sydney, 1981 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/

Sidney Nolan, Western Australia

Sidney Nolan, Western Australia, 1962 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/

Ed Murrow, New York

Ed Murrow, New York, 1956 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/

David Gulpilil, Arnhem Land

David Gulpilil, Arnhem Land, 1981 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/

Portrait of Captain James Cook RN

Portrait of Captain James Cook RN, 1782 John Webber

Dr Peter Farrell

Dr Peter Farrell, 2001 Salvatore Zofrea OAM. © Salvatore Zofrea/Copyright Agency, 2024

Hélène Kirsova in Petrouchka

Hélène Kirsova in Petrouchka, 1936-1937 Max Dupain OBE

Russell Drysdale

Russell Drysdale, 1960 Max Dupain OBE. © Max Dupain/Copyright Agency, 2022

Kumantjayi Perkins at the Roma Forum, Brisbane

Kumantjayi Perkins at the Roma Forum, Brisbane, 1982 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2022

Chicka Dixon

Chicka Dixon, 1980 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2022

Mum Shirl (Mrs Shirley Smith)

Mum Shirl (Mrs Shirley Smith), 1988 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2022

Sir James Hardy

Sir James Hardy, c. 1975 (printed 2002) Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC

Babette Hayes, London

Babette Hayes, London, early 1960s Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC

Ilsa Konrads

Ilsa Konrads, c. 1976 (printed 2002) Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC

Florence Broadhurst

Florence Broadhurst, 1975 Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC

Portrait bust of Dr Christine Rivett

Portrait bust of Dr Christine Rivett, c. 1950 (cast 1955-1956) Daphne Mayo MBE. © Estate of Daphne Mayo

Graeme Murphy

Graeme Murphy, 1977 (printed 2002) Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC

Patrick Johnson

Patrick Johnson, c. 2000 Penny Tweedie. © Estate of Penny Tweedie

Kerrie Lester

Kerrie Lester, 1990 Anne Zahalka. © Anne Zahalka/Copyright Agency, 2023

Susan Norrie

Susan Norrie, 1990 Anne Zahalka. © Anne Zahalka/Copyright Agency, 2022

Stanley Bruce

Stanley Bruce, 1937 Barbara Tribe. © Estate of Barbara Tribe

Akira Isogawa

Akira Isogawa, 2001 Peter Brew-Bevan. © Peter Brew-Bevan

Sir Edward Holden

Sir Edward Holden, 1945 Leslie Bowles

Naomi Watts

Naomi Watts, 2003 Peter Brew-Bevan. © Peter Brew-Bevan courtesy of Sue Southam Management

Marea Gazzard

Marea Gazzard, 1966 Judy Cassab AO CBE. © Judy Cassab/Copyright Agency, 2023

Mungo MacCallum

Mungo MacCallum, 1968 Judy Cassab AO CBE. © Judy Cassab/Copyright Agency, 2022

Vali Myers

Vali Myers, 2001 Eva Collins. © Eva Collins

Self portrait

Self portrait, late 1930s Sir William Dargie CBE. © Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie

Sir Arvi Parbo

Sir Arvi Parbo, 1993 Sir William Dargie CBE. © Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie

Essington Lewis

Essington Lewis, 1952 Sir William Dargie CBE. © Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie

Self portrait

Self portrait, between 1951 and 1953 Janet Dawson. © Janet Dawson/Copyright Agency, 2023

Tommy, Broken Bay tribe

Tommy, Broken Bay tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough

Bill Worrall, Five Islands tribe

Bill Worrall, Five Islands tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough

Punch, wife of Cullabaa, Broken Bay tribe

Punch, wife of Cullabaa, Broken Bay tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough

Jemmy, Newcastle tribe

Jemmy, Newcastle tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough

Mary, Botany Bay tribe

Mary, Botany Bay tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough

Mickie, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle tribe

Mickie, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough

Cullabaa, native of Lake George, Five Islands tribe

Cullabaa, native of Lake George, Five Islands tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough

Bungaree, late chief of the Broken Bay tribe, Sydney

Bungaree, late chief of the Broken Bay tribe, Sydney, 1836 William Fernyhough

Boardman, Lake Macquarie tribe

Boardman, Lake Macquarie tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough

Gooseberry, widow of King Bungaree

Gooseberry, widow of King Bungaree, 1836 William Fernyhough

image not online

Self portrait, 1992 Rolf Harris

Dame Roma Mitchell

Dame Roma Mitchell, 1998 Jessica Hromas. © Jessica Hromas

Self portrait

Self portrait, 2002 Barry Humphries. © Barry Humphries

Sir Mark Oliphant

Sir Mark Oliphant, c. 1948 Lotte Meitner-Graf

Self portrait (Full Length in front of Easel)

Self portrait (Full Length in front of Easel), 1901-1902 Hugh Ramsay

Portrait of Paddy Japaljarrii Stewart

Portrait of Paddy Japaljarrii Stewart, 2004 Francis Reiss. © Estate of Francis Reiss

Sir James Reading Fairfax

Sir James Reading Fairfax, 1898 Tom Roberts

Bee Miles

Bee Miles, 1976 Roderick Shaw. © Estate of Rod Shaw

Self portrait

Self portrait, 2001 Jeffrey Smart AO. © Estate of Jeffrey Smart

Portrait of Mrs Sarah Fairfax

Portrait of Mrs Sarah Fairfax, c. 1864 Edwin Dalton

Mrs Elizabeth Lewis

Mrs Elizabeth Lewis, c. 1830 an unknown artist

John Knatchbull, Murderer of Mrs Ellen Jamieson

John Knatchbull, Murderer of Mrs Ellen Jamieson, 1844 Charles Rodius, Hiberian Printing Office

Mr Mortimer Lewis

Mr Mortimer Lewis, c. 1828 an unknown artist

Murray Bail

Murray Bail, 1980-1981 Fred Williams. © Fred Williams

image not online

Peter Porter, 2004 Tony Clark

Mirror Mirror: Graeme Murphy

Mirror Mirror: Graeme Murphy, 2004 Paula Dawson AM. © Paula Dawson/Copyright Agency, 2023

Sketch for Prime Minister Robert Menzies

Sketch for Prime Minister Robert Menzies, 1960 Sir William Dobell OBE. © William Dobell/Copyright Agency, 2023

Study for Portrait of W S Robinson

Study for Portrait of W S Robinson, 1952 Sir William Dobell OBE. © William Dobell/Copyright Agency, 2024

Victor and Loti Smorgon

Victor and Loti Smorgon, 1995 (printed 2001) Kate Gollings. © Estate of Kate Gollings

Evonne Goolagong

Evonne Goolagong, 1973 Ern McQuillan OAM. © Michael McQuillan's Classic Photographs

Heather McKay

Heather McKay, 1980 Ern McQuillan OAM. © Michael McQuillan's Classic Photographs

Sir Ian Potter

Sir Ian Potter, 1968 Mark Strizic. © Estate of Mark Strizic

Norma Redpath

Norma Redpath, 1964 Mark Strizic. © Estate of Mark Strizic

Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch

Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, 2000 Australian Tapestry Workshop, Merrill Dumbrell, Christopher Pyett, Normana Wight. © Australian Tapestry Workshop

Andrew Southall

Andrew Southall, 1995 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2022

Manning Clark

Manning Clark, 1990 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2022

Alex Miller

Alex Miller, 1992 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2022

Self portrait

Self portrait, 1999 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2023

image not online

Rolf Harris, 1989 Rick Amor

John Perceval

John Perceval, 1985 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2022

Jimmy Little, Sydney

Jimmy Little, Sydney, 2004 John Elliott. © John Elliott

John Williamson, Springbrook, Qld

John Williamson, Springbrook, Qld, 2004 John Elliott. © John Elliott

Smoky Dawson, Sydney

Smoky Dawson, Sydney, 2004 John Elliott. © John Elliott

Kasey Chambers, Sydney

Kasey Chambers, Sydney, 2004 John Elliott. © John Elliott

Troy Cassar-Daley, Brisbane

Troy Cassar-Daley, Brisbane, 2004 John Elliott. © John Elliott

Eugene Goossens

Eugene Goossens, c. 1954 Max Dupain OBE

Hudson Fysh

Hudson Fysh, c. 1950 Max Dupain OBE

Arnold Haskell

Arnold Haskell, 1937 Max Dupain OBE

David Combe and the portrait

David Combe and the portrait, 1983 Keith Looby. © Keith Looby

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, 1932 Enid Fleming. © Estate of Enid Fleming

Captain Ulm

Captain Ulm, 1932 Enid Fleming. © Estate of Enid Fleming

Harry Seidler, Killara, Sydney

Harry Seidler, Killara, Sydney, 1984 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/

Norman Lindsay

Norman Lindsay, 1936 Max Dupain OBE

Chips Rafferty

Chips Rafferty, c. 1945 Max Dupain OBE

Patricia 'Bambi' Tuckwell (Shmith)

Patricia 'Bambi' Tuckwell (Shmith), c. 1952 Max Dupain OBE

Tamara Tchinarova

Tamara Tchinarova, 1938 Max Dupain OBE

Tania Verstak

Tania Verstak, 1962 Jozef Vissel. © Jozef Vissel

William Dobell, Potts Point, Sydney

William Dobell, Potts Point, Sydney, 1960 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/

Sir Gustav Nossal

Sir Gustav Nossal, 2004 Dean Home. © Dean Home

The family

The family, c. 1955 Charles Blackman OBE. © Charles Blackman/Copyright Agency, 2024

Barry Humphries

Barry Humphries, 1958 Clifton Pugh AO. © Shane Pugh

Fred Gruen

Fred Gruen, 1941 Erwin Fabian. © Estate of Erwin Fabian

Self portrait with gladioli

Self portrait with gladioli, 1922 George Lambert

Head study for portrait of Margaret Olley

Head study for portrait of Margaret Olley, 1994 Jeffrey Smart AO. © Estate of Jeffrey Smart

Related information

Dr Peter Farrell

Dr Peter Farrell

Dr Peter Farrell

Giving and getting

Magazine article by Michael Desmond, 2006

The exhibition Portraits for Posterity celebrates gifts to the Gallery, of purchases made with donated funds, and testifies to the generosity and community spirit of Australians.

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The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

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