Skip to main content

What's on

Prizes

Watch

The Gallery

Governance & Board

Circle of Friends

Learn

Access

Search the website

close close

What's on The Portraits The Gallery Learn Watch More O

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.

Search / peter purves smith

The New Arrivals at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art

Peter Purves Smith

Peter Purves Smith (1912–1949), artist, went to Geelong Grammar with his lifelong friend Russell Drysdale.

2 portraits in the collection

Maisie

Maisie

Maisie

Maisie, 1938-1939

Peter Purves Smith

Portrait, gouache on paper

Bequest of Lady Maisie Drysdale 2001

The New Arrivals at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art

The New Arrivals at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art

The New Arrivals at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art

The New Arrivals at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, 1941

Russell Drysdale

Portrait, pen and pencil on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Bequest of Lady Maisie Drysdale 2001

Portrait of Tam Purves

Bonfire of the vanities

Magazine article by Stuart Purves, 2016

Australian Galleries Director Stuart Purves tells the story of two portraits by John Brack.

image not online

Mike Smith, 2007 (printed 2013)

Portrait, inkjet print on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Peter Eve 2013

Peter Sculthorpe

Peter Sculthorpe

Peter Sculthorpe

Peter Sculthorpe, 1982

Portrait, oil on canvas

Purchased with funds provided by the Basil Bressler Bequest 2004

Peter Sculthorpe

Creative space

Magazine article by Eric Smith, 2004

Eric Smith describes the agony and finally the ecstasy of winning the 1982 Archibald Prize with the portrait of Peter Sculthorpe.

Creatures of Leisure

Creatures of Leisure

Creatures of Leisure

Creatures of Leisure, 1982

Portrait, 5 screenprints on paper

Get Wet Series

Get Wet Series

Get Wet Series

Get Wet Series, 1979

Portrait, five screenprints on paper

Purchased with funds provided by the Basil Bressler Bequest 2001

Portrait of Tam Purves

Thomas Purves

Thomas Purves (1909-1969), known as Tam, founded the Australian Galleries in Smith Street, Collingwood, Melbourne with his wife Anne in 1956.

1 portrait in the collection

Portrait of Tam Purves

Portrait of Tam Purves

Portrait of Tam Purves

Portrait of Tam Purves, 1958

Portrait, oil on canvas

Purchased 2012

image not online

(James Smith / Joshua Smith) Chain of being, 2023-2024

Portrait, etching on paper

Purchased 2024

Peter Schipperheyn with bust of Peter Garrett

Peter Schipperheyn

'A quintessential Australian character'

Sculptor Peter Schipperheyn talks about working with marble and his portrait of Peter Garrett.

Bust of Peter Garrett

Bust of Peter Garrett

Bust of Peter Garrett

Bust of Peter Garrett, 1991-2016

Peter Schipperheyn

Portrait, carved marble on travertine marble base

Gift of the artist 2018. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Joshua Smith

Joshua Smith

Joshua Smith studied sculpture with Rayner Hoff and took classes in drawing and painting at Julian Ashton's Sydney Art School.

6 portraits in the collection

The painter transmogrified and Mrs Smith

Eric Smith

Eric Smith (1919-2017), painter, was born in Brunswick, Melbourne, and trained in commercial art at the Brunswick Technical College before serving in the army during World War 2.

6 portraits in the 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