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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.

Sir Joseph Banks KCB / Search /

Portrait of Sir Joseph Banks

Joseph Banks

In their own words

In their own words

The Fly Catching Macaroni (Sir Joseph Banks)

The Fly Catching Macaroni (Sir Joseph Banks)

The Fly Catching Macaroni (Sir Joseph Banks)

The Fly Catching Macaroni (Sir Joseph Banks), 1772

Portrait, etching on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2018

The Botanic Macaroni (Sir Joseph Banks)

The Botanic Macaroni (Sir Joseph Banks)

The Botanic Macaroni (Sir Joseph Banks)

The Botanic Macaroni (Sir Joseph Banks), 1772

Portrait, etching on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2018

Woburn Sheepshearing

Woburn Sheepshearing

Woburn Sheepshearing

Woburn Sheepshearing, 1811

Thomas Morris, M N. Bates, Joseph C. Stadler after George Garrard

Portrait, aquatint with stipple and etching and engraving, hand coloured on chine colle on paper laid down on cotton stretched over wooden strainer

Purchased 2018

Sydney Cove medallion, 1789 by Josiah Wedgwood

The medallion

About Face article

In recent years I have become fascinated by the so-called Sydney Cove Medallion (1789), a work of art that bridges the 10,000-mile gap between the newly established penal settlement at Port Jackson and the beating heart of Enlightenment England.

The great South Sea caterpillar transformed into a Bath Butterfly (Sir Joseph Banks)

The Bath Butterfly

About Face article

The caricaturist and engraver James Gillray's biting satires about Sir Joseph Banks.

Sir Joseph Banks

Sir Joseph Banks

Sir Joseph Banks

Sir Joseph Banks, 1811

William Daniell after George Dance

Portrait, soft ground etching on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2014

The great South Sea caterpillar transformed into a Bath Butterfly (Sir Joseph Banks)

The great South Sea caterpillar transformed into a Bath Butterfly (Sir Joseph Banks)

The great South Sea caterpillar transformed into a Bath Butterfly (Sir Joseph Banks)

The great South Sea caterpillar transformed into a Bath Butterfly (Sir Joseph Banks), 1795 (printed 1851)

Portrait, etching, hand coloured on paper

Gift of Douglas Stewart Fine Books 2013

Sir Joseph Banks

In a good paddock

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2011

Celebrating a new painted portrait of Joseph Banks, Sarah Engledow spins a yarn of the naturalist, the first kangaroo in France and Don, a Spanish ram.

Portrait of Sir Joseph Banks

Portrait of Sir Joseph Banks

Portrait of Sir Joseph Banks

Portrait of Sir Joseph Banks, c. 1814

Thomas Phillips

Portrait, oil on canvas

Purchased 2011

Joseph Banks and Dr Solander

Joseph Banks and Dr Solander

Joseph Banks and Dr Solander

Joseph Banks and Dr Solander, 1778

an unknown artist after Wedgewood

Portrait, engraving on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Gina and Ted Gregg 2010

Sir Joseph Banks

Sir Joseph Banks

Sir Joseph Banks

Sir Joseph Banks, c. 1788

John Raphael Smith after Sir Benjamin West

Portrait, mezzotint on paper

Purchased 2010

Portrait of Sir Joseph Banks, president of the Royal Society

Portrait of Sir Joseph Banks, president of the Royal Society

Portrait of Sir Joseph Banks, president of the Royal Society

Portrait of Sir Joseph Banks, president of the Royal Society, 1812

N Schiavonetti after Thomas Phillips

Portrait, line engraving on paper

Purchased 2010

Sir Joseph Banks

Sir Joseph Banks

Sir Joseph Banks

Sir Joseph Banks, 1802

Portrait, engraving on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Gina and Ted Gregg 2010

Sir Joseph Banks

Sir Joseph Banks

Sir Joseph Banks

Sir Joseph Banks, 1840s

C E. Wagstaff after Thomas Phillips

Portrait, engraving on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Gina and Ted Gregg 2010

Portrait of Dr Johann Reinhold Forster and his son George Forster

To the end of the earth

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2009

The portrait of Dr. Johann Reinhold Forster and his son George Forster from 1780, is one of the oldest in the NPG's collection.

© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

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.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency