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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.

Of plague and portraits

Corinna Cullen on the symbolic power of pandemic-related imagery over the ages.

More information on Of plague and portraits

Selected images

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Mural of Italian/Roman actress Anna Magnani (1908­–1973) with face mask, April 2020 Unknown artist
Mural of Italian/Roman actress Anna Magnani (1908­–1973) with face mask, April 2020 Unknown artist
Gwyneth Paltrow Instagram selfie wearing protective face mask, late February 2020
Gwyneth Paltrow Instagram selfie wearing protective face mask, late February 2020
Naomi Campbell Instagram selfie dressed in hazmat clothing, March 2020
Naomi Campbell Instagram selfie dressed in hazmat clothing, March 2020
Plague doctors; Habit des Medecins, et autres personnes qui visitent les Pestiferes Il est de marroquin lenant(?), le masque a les yeux de cristal, et un long nex rempli de parfums. Unknown artist
Plague doctors; Habit des Medecins, et autres personnes qui visitent les Pestiferes Il est de marroquin lenant(?), le masque a les yeux de cristal, et un long nex rempli de parfums. Unknown artist
Scene of the plague of London, 1862 Charles Samuel Keene
Scene of the plague of London, 1862 Charles Samuel Keene
Napoleon Bonaparte visiting the plague stricken at Jaffa, 1804
Napoleon Bonaparte visiting the plague stricken at Jaffa, 1804
Two women lying dead in a London street during the great plague, 1665, one with a child who is still alive Etching after R Pollard II
Two women lying dead in a London street during the great plague, 1665, one with a child who is still alive Etching after R Pollard II
7 images
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