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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.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Arthur Streeton, Nora Streeton (nee Clench) and Pat, the dog

c. 1909
H. Walter Barnett

platinum photograph on printed card (sheet: 38.6 cm x 25.1 cm, image: 20.1 cm x 13.6 cm)

Arthur Streeton (1867–1943), painter, grew up in Geelong and Melbourne and attended night classes at the National Gallery School between 1882 and 1887. In 1886 he met Frederick McCubbin and Tom Roberts, who admired his paintings and invited him to join one of the painting camps on the outskirts of Melbourne. With Roberts, McCubbin and Charles Conder, Streeton was a core member of the group of artists known as the 'Heidelberg School'. In 1897, after several years in Sydney, moved to London with the photographer Walter Barnett and his wife. Streeton spent most of the next 25 years in Europe, working for some time as an official Australian war artist in France, and serving alongside Roberts and other expatriate Australians in the Royal Army Medical Corps at the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth. He married the Canadian violinist Nora Clench (1867–1938) in 1908. Barnett later photographed the couple at their St John's Wood home in England. Some years after the end of the war, in 1923, the Streetons returned to Australia, settling near Melbourne.

Purchased 2001

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

H. Walter Barnett (age 47 in 1909)

Arthur Streeton (age 42 in 1909)

Nora Streeton (age 42 in 1909)

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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.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency