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General Ralph Darling, Governor of New South Wales, c. 1840

Purchased 2018

Duty bound

Joanna Gilmour explores the life of colonial women Lady Ellen Stirling, Eliza Darling, Lady Eliza Arthur, Elizabeth Macquarie and Lady Jane Franklin.

Marilyn, Marlene and Kelvin Kong, c. 2000

Gift of the artist 2004

Darling Portrait Prize 2024

The Darling Portrait Prize is a biennial national prize for Australian portrait painting honouring the legacy of Mr L Gordon Darling AC CMG.

Darling Portrait Prize 2022

The Darling Portrait Prize is a biennial national prize for Australian portrait painting honouring the legacy of Mr L Gordon Darling AC CMG (1921-2015). The winner receives a cash prize of $75,000.

Darling Portrait Prize

The Darling Portrait Prize is a biennial national prize for Australian portrait painting honouring the legacy of Mr L Gordon Darling AC CMG (1921-2015), who was instrumental in establishing the National Portrait Gallery of Australia. The winner receives a cash prize of $75,000.

Honour board

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges and thanks all its supporters.

Virtual Highlight Tour

Join curator Dr Emma Kindred on a virtual tour of the Darling Portrait Prize, where she will examine the approaches and techniques used by artists to capture their sitters.

Artist Floor Talks

On the opening day of the Darling Portrait Prize and the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2024, we invite you to join us in the galleries for a series of artist floor talks with some finalists from each prize.

Water as Life: The Town of Wilcannia and the Darling/Baaka, 2006

Dr HV Evatt, Albert Namatjira and Dame Mary Gilmore having a meal, c. 1950s

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by Marilyn Darling AC 2008

Preparatory study for General Eva Burrows AC AO, 2001

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Commissioned with funds provided by Marilyn Darling AC 2001

Gordon Darling Hall

Just inside the entrance, the Hall has a soaring ceiling and plenty of natural light.

Preparatory study for General Eva Burrows AC AO, 2001

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Commissioned with funds provided by Marilyn Darling AC 2001

Preparatory study for General Eva Burrows AC AO, 2001

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Commissioned with funds provided by Marilyn Darling AC 2001

The Darling

Beards were generally been out for British military men in the 1800s: civilians might have worn them as badges of masculinity, but in the army they were perhaps a bit too close to indiscipline for comfort.