David Campese AM (b. 1962), footballer, played 101 Rugby Union Tests for Australia between 1982 and 1996. For a long time he was Australia's most-capped player; he is still one of only four worldwide to have played more than 100 Tests. Campese grew up in Queanbeyan, NSW and began playing football with the local Mighty Whites. He made his international debut in 1982. Over a career of 15 years as a winger and fullback he became the world's leading Test try scorer (with 64 tries); his shared record of four tries in a single Test match has only been eclipsed by Chris Latham in Australia's 142-0 defeat of Namibia in 2003. He is now a successful sports entrepreneur.
Paul Newton has painted a great number of portraits on commission and has several times been a finalist in the Archibald Prize. A similar portrait of Campese, painted at the same time as this one, featured in the 2000 Sporting Portrait Prize.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds from the Basil Bressler Bequest 2001
© Paul Newton
Accession number: 2001.3
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On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
An interview with Paul Newton, the creator of the portrait of rugby legend David Campese.
Katherine Russell examines the art of Australian artist Paul Newton, referencing the portraiture of John Singer Sargent.
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