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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.

Alice Want

1853
William Nicholas

pencil and watercolour on paper (frame: 37.5 cm x 28.4 cm, sight: 20.6 cm x 14.0 cm)
Alice Want

Alice Simpson, née Want was one of nine children of Randolph and Harriette Want, who married in Sydney in 1839. Randolph Want (1811-1869), a solicitor, arrived in Australia in the late 1820s and served in the first Legislative Assembly of New South Wales. Alice married grazier Robert Percy Simpson in Sydney in 1857. Their eldest son, Edward Percy Simpson, was born in 1858 and followed two of his uncles into the legal profession, establishing the tradition followed by three generations of men in the Simpson family.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the Simpson family in memory of Caroline Simpson OAM 2008
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

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.
2008.80
Currently not on display
Request a digital copy for publication

Artist and subject

William Nicholas

Alice Simpson (age 16 in 1853)

Donated by

Emily Simpson (6 portraits)

Louise Dobson (6 portraits)

Alice Simpson (6 portraits)

Edward Simpson (6 portraits)

Related portraits

Theresa and James Laidley Mort
1. Theresa and James Laidley Mort, 1844. All William Nicholas.

Related information

The Companion

Permanent collection catalogue

Café and shop

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.
A Sydney family, 1840s
A Sydney family, 1840s
A Sydney family, 1840s
A Sydney family, 1840s

The house, the horse, the wife and the offspring

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2009

Joanna Gilmour writes about the portraiture of the colonial artist William Nicholas.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
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.

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.

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