Harry Messel AC CBE (b. 1922), scientist and academic, was born in Canada and gained his qualifications there and in Scotland and Ireland. He came to Australia after the war, and taught for two years at Adelaide University. In 1952, aged just 29, he was appointed to the University of Sydney as professor and head of the school of physics. Over the unprecedented 35 years that Messel ran the school it developed into one of the world’s leading university physics departments. To support its research Messel established the first university foundation in the Commonwealth, the Nuclear Research Foundation, through which he raised enormous sums. A prominent intellectual, he advised on government policy, pioneered the introduction of computers in Australia, contributed substantially to high school science education through his widely used science textbook and encouraged students to pursue careers in science through his International Science Schools. After his retirement from the university in 1987 Messel served on the World Conservation Union, heading its crocodile specialist group from 1989 to 2004. He served on the Australian Atomic Energy Commission from 1975 to 1981, and was chancellor of Bond University from 1992 to 1997.
Louis Kahan (1905-2002) signed a series of his early works ‘A Guy from Paris’; but from 1950 he lived in Melbourne, where he made many hundreds of portraits and paintings with gently surreal elements. He won the Archibald in 1962 with a startling portrait of author Patrick White.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Mrs Lily Kahan 2006
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
© Louis Kahan/Copyright Agency, 2022
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.
