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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.

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Chang the Chinese giant and party

c. 1871
Paterson Brothers

carte de visite photograph (support: 10.4 cm x 6.4 cm, image: 9.5 cm x 5.8 cm)
Chang the Chinese giant and party

Chang Woo Gow (1840s-1893), known as Chang the Chinese Giant, first appeared publicly in London in the mid-1860s. Thousands marvelled at his height and proficiency in many languages. With his wife, Kin Foo, he arrived in Australia from the USA in 1870 and toured the country for several years. Here, after Kin Foo died, Chang met and married Catherine Santley. They had one son in China and one in Paris before moving to England. After a stint with Barnum and Bailey's 'Greatest Show on Earth', Chang retired with his family to Bournemouth, where he opened a tearoom with a sideline in Chinese curios and fabrics.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2010

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.
2010.28
Currently not on display
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Artist and subject

Paterson Brothers

Chang Woo Gow (age 31 in 1871)

Subject professions

Performing arts

Related portraits
(View all 7)

Chang the Chinese giant with his wife Kin Foo
Chang the Chinese giant in European dress with Chinese boy and three European men, one of whom is his manager
Chang the Chinese giant with his manager cowering on the floor
Chang the Chinese Giant with his wife Kin Foo and manager Edward Parlett
1. Chang the Chinese giant with his wife Kin Foo, c. 1871 an unknown artist. 2. Chang the Chinese giant in European dress with Chinese boy and three European men, one of whom is his manager, c. 1871 Archibald McDonald. 3. Chang the Chinese giant with his manager cowering on the floor, c. 1871 an unknown artist. 4. Chang the Chinese Giant with his wife Kin Foo and manager Edward Parlett, c. 1871 Archibald McDonald.

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.
Chang the Chinese giant and party
Chang the Chinese giant and party
Chang the Chinese giant and party
Chang the Chinese giant and party

The portrait writ large

Magazine article by Karen Vickery, 2015

Karen Vickery on Chang the Chinese giant in Australia.
Ned Kelly death mask
Ned Kelly death mask
Ned Kelly death mask
Ned Kelly death mask

Sideshow Alley

Infamy, the macabre & the portrait

Previous exhibition, 2015

Death masks, post-mortem drawings and other spooky and disquieting portraits... Come and see how portraits of infamous Australians were used in the 19th century.
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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.

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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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