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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.

Mullet magic, 2021 Leith Alexander

Mullet magic

Leith Alexander
Image
Sketch portrait of Sir Alex Onslow
Sketch portrait of Sir Alex Onslow
Sketch portrait of Sir Alex Onslow

Sketch portrait of Sir Alex Onslow, 1896

Tom Roberts
Portrait, oil on canvas

Purchased with funds provided by L Gordon Darling AC CMG 2006

Alex Miller, novelist
Alex Miller, novelist
Alex Miller, novelist

Alex Miller, novelist, 2022

Hong Fu
Portrait, oil on canvas

Gift of the artist 2022

Alexander Maurice Ramsay
Alexander Maurice Ramsay
Alexander Maurice Ramsay

Alexander Maurice Ramsay, 1978

Robert Hannaford AM
Portrait, oil on composition board

Gift of Janet, Andrew, Kathryn and Eleanor Ramsay, daughters and son of Alexander Maurice Ramsay and Amy Jane Ramsay 2010. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

image not online

Alexander 'Jock' Sturrock, 1962

Graham Thorley
Portrait, oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 1999

Alex Miller
Alex Miller
Alex Miller

Alex Miller, 1992

Rick Amor
Portrait, pencil on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2005
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Alex Miller
Alex Miller
Alex Miller

Alex Miller, 1992

Rick Amor
Portrait, pencil on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2005
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Alexander MacLeay
Alexander MacLeay
Alexander MacLeay

Alexander MacLeay, c. 1845

Charles Fox after Sir Thomas Lawrence
Portrait, engraving on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2009

Mr and Mrs Case
Mr and Mrs Case
Mr and Mrs Case

Mr and Mrs Case, 1864

Alexander Fox and Co
Portrait, albumen photograph on carte de visite

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2010

image not online

Sir James Forrest, 1978

William Boissevain
Portrait, oil on canvas

Gift of Alcoa World Alumina Australia 2005. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

image not online

Keith Laught, 1951

Geoffrey Shedley
Portrait, oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Mrs Mary Shedley, Mrs Christine Moriarty, Mrs Josephine Lawrence and Mrs Helen Beare 2010

D.A.S. Campbell (David Alexander Stewart Campbell)
D.A.S. Campbell (David Alexander Stewart Campbell)
D.A.S. Campbell (David Alexander Stewart Campbell)

D.A.S. Campbell (David Alexander Stewart Campbell), 1963

Sir William Dargie CBE
Portrait, oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Dr Mary Newlinds and Sheena Simpson in memory of their father, D.A.S. Campbell, 2014

Alexander Dalrymple
Alexander Dalrymple
Alexander Dalrymple

Alexander Dalrymple, 1809

William Daniell after George Dance
Portrait, soft ground etching on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by the Liangis family 2012

First Conservative Whip (Sir Alexander Fuller-Acland-Hood Bart MP)
First Conservative Whip (Sir Alexander Fuller-Acland-Hood Bart MP)
First Conservative Whip (Sir Alexander Fuller-Acland-Hood Bart MP)

First Conservative Whip (Sir Alexander Fuller-Acland-Hood Bart MP), 1903

Sir Leslie Ward, Vanity Fair Magazine
Portrait, chromolithograph on paper

Gift of Ronald Walker 2002

a Traveller (2nd Baron Lamington)
a Traveller (2nd Baron Lamington)
a Traveller (2nd Baron Lamington)

a Traveller (2nd Baron Lamington), 1892

Sir Leslie Ward, Vanity Fair Magazine
Portrait, chromolithograph on paper

Purchased 2015

Radical Restraint 
Justice Michael Kirby

Judicial portraits

Magazine article by Leslie Moran, 2007

Leslie Moran investigates the portraits of judges in the National Portrait Gallery's collection.

'The Australian Cricketers' from The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News June 1882, page 2 Unknown artist Publisher Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News

'The Australian Cricketers' from The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News June 1882, page 2

Unknown artist Publisher Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News
Image
'The Australian Cricketers' from The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News June 1882
'The Australian Cricketers' from The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News June 1882
'The Australian Cricketers' from The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News June 1882

'The Australian Cricketers' from The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News June 1882, 1882

an unknown artist
Portrait, engravings on paper

Purchased 2009

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention, Sydney 1891 from Australasia Illustrated
Delegates to the Constitutional Convention, Sydney 1891 from Australasia Illustrated
Delegates to the Constitutional Convention, Sydney 1891 from Australasia Illustrated

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention, Sydney 1891 from Australasia Illustrated, 1891

an unknown artist
Portrait, engraving on paper (4 sheets)

Purchased 2009

Leith Alexander video: 20 minutes

Leith Alexander

Finalist interviews

An interview with Leith Alexander, Finalist in the Living Memory National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Yvonne Alexander, Bar Maid, Sydney, 2022 Ingvar Kenne

Yvonne Alexander, Bar Maid, Sydney, 2022

Ingvar Kenne
Image
Future Australian, 2009 by Robin Sellick

Future Australian, 2009

by Robin Sellick
Image
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A magnificent rivalry

Australia's America's Cup challengers
General content

Alexander (Jock) Sturrock and Alan Bond

Kylie, 2004

Kylie

An Exhibition
Previous exhibition, 2005

Kylie Minogue, one of Australia's most famous cultural exports is now the subject of her own exhibition.

Tania Verstak
Tania Verstak
Tania Verstak

Tania Verstak, 1962

Jozef Vissel
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2005

Tania Verstak
Tania Verstak
Tania Verstak

Tania Verstak, 1962 (printed 2006)

Jozef Vissel
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2006

Jessie Whyte
Jessie Whyte
Jessie Whyte

Jessie Whyte, c. 1840

Thomas Bock
Portrait, pastel and chalk on paper laid down on cotton over Cedar strainer

Purchased 2017

Sir John Franklin
Sir John Franklin
Sir John Franklin

Sir John Franklin, c. 1845

D F. Murphy after E P. Hardy
Portrait, engraving on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2010

Archbishop James Goold
Archbishop James Goold
Archbishop James Goold

Archbishop James Goold, c. 1870

Archibald McDonald
Portrait, albumen paper carte de visite

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2010

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Les Murray, 2003

Norman McBeath
Portrait, bromide fibre print

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Norman McBeath 2011

Les Murray
Les Murray
Les Murray

Les Murray, 1995

David Naseby
Portrait, oil on canvas

Purchased with funds provided by the Basil Bressler Bequest 2001

Sir John Franklin
Sir John Franklin
Sir John Franklin

Sir John Franklin, c. 1846

Theresa Walker after David D'Angers
Portrait, cast wax

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2015

Fay Bottrell
Fay Bottrell
Fay Bottrell

Fay Bottrell, 1981

David Campbell
Portrait, oil and synthetic polymer paint on canvas

Gift of Elizabeth Campbell-MacKenzie on behalf of the family of David Campbell 2012

Nlle. Holland Port Jackson: Sauvages des environs de Sydney: Nani, Taran, Abinghou, Broten, Timbere
Nlle. Holland Port Jackson: Sauvages des environs de Sydney: Nani, Taran, Abinghou, Broten, Timbere
Nlle. Holland Port Jackson: Sauvages des environs de Sydney: Nani, Taran, Abinghou, Broten, Timbere

Nlle. Holland Port Jackson: Sauvages des environs de Sydney: Nani, Taran, Abinghou, Broten, Timbere, 1825

Jean Coutant after Jacques Etienne Victor Arago
Portrait, line engraving on paper

Purchased 2015

Jacques Arago
Jacques Arago
Jacques Arago

Jacques Arago, c. 1830s

Nicolas Maurin, Alexandre Sixdeniers
Portrait, engraving on paper

Purchased with funds provided by L Gordon Darling AC CMG 2009

Stan de Teliga
Stan de Teliga
Stan de Teliga

Stan de Teliga, 1973

Vaike Liibus
Portrait, oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the Liibus family 2015

Lord Florey
Lord Florey
Lord Florey

Lord Florey, c. 1966

Louis Kahan AO
Portrait, fibre-tipped pen on paper

Purchased 1998

The Bushranger Tragedy (from The Australasian Sketcher, 23 November 1878)
The Bushranger Tragedy (from The Australasian Sketcher, 23 November 1878)
The Bushranger Tragedy (from The Australasian Sketcher, 23 November 1878)

The Bushranger Tragedy (from The Australasian Sketcher, 23 November 1878), 1878

an unknown artist, The Australasian Sketcher
Portrait, wood engraving on paper

Purchased 2003

Sir Howard Florey OM KBE FRS FAA
Sir Howard Florey OM KBE FRS FAA
Sir Howard Florey OM KBE FRS FAA

Sir Howard Florey OM KBE FRS FAA, 1985

Andor Meszaros
Portrait, cast bronze medallion on wood plaque

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Dr Ray Marginson AM 2001

Self portrait, c. 1640 Sir Anthony van Dyck

Self portrait

Sir Anthony van Dyck
Image
John Richard Tindale
John Richard Tindale
John Richard Tindale

John Richard Tindale, 1841

Maurice Felton
Portrait, oil on canvas laid on composition board

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2003

Mary Tindale
Mary Tindale
Mary Tindale

Mary Tindale, 1841

Maurice Felton
Portrait, oil on canvas laid on composition board

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2003

MacKenzie family silhouette
MacKenzie family silhouette
MacKenzie family silhouette

MacKenzie family silhouette, 1846

Samuel Metford
Portrait, brush and ink, pen and ink, stencil cut-out with watercolour highlights on paper

Gift of the Estate of Nancy Wiseman 2007

Gloria Petyarre by R. Ian Lloyd

Studio

Australian Painters Photographed by R. Ian Lloyd
Previous exhibition, 2007

Studio: Australian Painters Photographed by R

Copeman, gardener, Great Yarmouth by John Dempsey

Calling all family history buffs

3 July 2017
Archived media releases 2017

The National Portrait Gallery is calling on family history enthusiasts and amateur historians to tell it more about the people in its new show, Dempsey’s People: A folio of British street portraits from 1824-1844.

Caroline Jones
Caroline Jones
Caroline Jones

Caroline Jones, 1978

David Campbell
Portrait, oil on canvas

Gift of Elizabeth Campbell-MacKenzie on behalf of the family of David Campbell 2012

Captain W Kinghorne

The bright-eyed Mariner

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2008
A new colonial portrait brings a zealous captain near.
Margaret Fulton

Masters of Fare

Chefs, winemakers, providores
Previous exhibition, 2004

Masters of fare: chefs, winemakers, providores celebrates men and women who have championed the unique culinary characteristics and produce of Australia, enriching our lives with new ideas and new flavours over the past forty years.

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Dora Byrne, 1951

Richard von Marientreu
Portrait, oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the Estate of Leslie Walford AM 2013

Miss Frances Samuel
Miss Frances Samuel
Miss Frances Samuel

Miss Frances Samuel, 1840

Maurice Felton
Portrait, oil on canvas

Purchased 2011

Billy the match man, Liverpool, 1844 by John Dempsey

Rare Set of Watercolour Paintings on Display for the First Time

15 June 2017
Archived media releases 2017

A rare and enchanting collection of 52 portraits of British street people will be on display for the first time in the National Portrait Gallery’s winter show, Dempsey’s People: a folio of British street portraits 1824-1844.

Madame Sibly, Phrenologist and Mesmerist
Madame Sibly, Phrenologist and Mesmerist
Madame Sibly, Phrenologist and Mesmerist

Madame Sibly, Phrenologist and Mesmerist, c. 1870

James E. Bray
Portrait, albumen silver carte de visite photograph

Purchased 2017

Prince William of Wales, by Mario Testino, 2003 publ. September 2003.
Credit: Mario Testino

Vanity Fair Portraits

Photographs 1913-2008
Previous exhibition, 2009

Vanity Fair Portraits traces the birth and evolution of photographic portraiture through the archives of Vanity Fair magazine.

Little John of Colchester, a poor lunatic, c.1823 by John Dempsey

Dempsey's people

About Face article

Those of you who are active in social media circles may be aware that through the past week I have unleashed a blitz on Facebook and Instagram in connection with our new winter exhibition Dempsey’s People: A Folio of British Street Portraits, 1824−1844.

Thomas Woolner

Missing Persons

Thomas Woolner in Australia
About Face article

Desperately seeking Woolner medallions

Nicole Kidman, New York

Penn on paper

Magazine article by Michael Desmond, 2009

Michael Desmond discusses Irving Penn's photographic portrait of Nicole Kidman.

Dr Joseph Brown with Two Typists

Unboxed

Magazine article by Sandra Bruce, 2022

Sandra Bruce explores a new acquisition that has within it a story of interconnectivities in the Australian art world.

Silent Strength, 2021 Wayne Quilliam

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2022

Previous exhibition, 2022

The exhibition is selected from a national field of entries, reflecting the distinctive vision of Australia's aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.

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.

Thomas Sutcliffe Mort and his wife Theresa

Husbands and Wives

Photographic Portraits from 19th Century Australia
Previous exhibition, 2010

'I have just been to my dressing case to take a peep at you.

Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Nelson AC CVO MBE

Spikes: then and now

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2006

As part of its ongoing program of commissions of portraits of prominent Australians, the National Portrait Gallery has unveiled a portrait of Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Nelson by South Australian artist Avril Thomas.

Andy Thomas

Uncommon Australians

The vision of Gordon and Marilyn Darling
Previous exhibition, 2015

This exhibition showcases portraits acquired through the generosity of the National Portrait Gallery’s Founding Patrons, L Gordon Darling AC CMG and Marilyn Darling AC.

Sammy Dodd

2022 Annual Appeal

Annual Appeal

In 2022 the Annual Appeal was focussed on Mayatjara by Robert Fielding, a series of 24 photographs of Elders of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara community.

Painter John Brack with Professor Alex Mitchell and Sir Garfield Barwick
Painter John Brack with Professor Alex Mitchell and Sir Garfield Barwick
Painter John Brack with Professor Alex Mitchell and Sir Garfield Barwick

Painter John Brack with Professor Alex Mitchell and Sir Garfield Barwick, c. 1977

Jozef Vissel
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Gift of the Jozef Vissel 2015

Sir Edward Holden

Promise Fulfilled

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2006

The life and achievements of Sir Edward Holden, who is represented in the portrait collection by a bust created by Leslie Bowles.

Andrew Sayers AM

Reflections on castles

Magazine article by Andrew Sayers AM, 2004

Andrew Sayers describes the unique characteristics of the international band of portrait galleries.

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Annual Appeal

Listed by year
Honour board
Sir Thomas Gore-Browne
Sir Thomas Gore-Browne
Sir Thomas Gore-Browne

Sir Thomas Gore-Browne, 1864

J Walch & Sons
Portrait, tinted lithograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2018

Les Murray

Poets' Portraits

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2005

The Portrait Gallery's paintings of two poets, Les Murray and Peter Porter, demonstrate two very different artists' responses to the challenge of representing more than usually sensitive and imaginative men.

Adrian Rawlins

Earth to earth

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2013

Dr Sarah Engledow discusses the recent gift of works by David Campbell.

Self portrait

Expect the unexpected

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2019

Joanna Gilmour revels in accidental artist Charles Rodius’ nineteenth century renderings of Indigenous peoples.

A woman of New South Wales, c. 1840

More cash than dash

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2011

Joanna Gilmour describes how colonial portraitists found the perfect market among social status seeking Sydneysiders.

Dr Alison Inglis, AM, 2023 Dena Kahan

School portraits

About Face article

Inga Walton sheds light on a portraiture collection usually only seen by students and teachers at Melbourne University.

Alexander Pearce
executed for murder
July 19th 1824

Public hanging

Magazine article by Michael Desmond, 2008

As a convict Thomas Bock was required to sketch executed murders for science; as a free man, fashionable society portraits.

Leigh Bowery in Fur Coat

Hyperversity

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2006

Dr Sarah Engledow writes about the larger-than-life Australian performance artist, Leigh Bowery.

Forest Creek, Mount Alexander Diggings, 1852 by S. T. Gill

The Rothschilds, the Montefiores, and the Victorian Gold Rush

About Face article

Some years ago my colleague Andrea Wolk Rager and I spent several days in the darkened basement of a Rothschild Bank, inspecting every one of the nearly 700 autochromes created immediately before World War I by the youthful Lionel de Rothschild.

Karl Robert, Count Nesselrode, 1818 by Sir Thomas Lawrence

The Lawrence lustre

Magazine article by Angus Trumble, 2019

Angus Trumble salutes the glorious portraiture of Sir Thomas Lawrence.

The girls, 2017 by Tamara Dean

Snap decisions

Magazine article by Robert Cook, 2018

NPPP judge Robert Cook provides irreverent insight into this year’s fare, and having to be a bit judgemental.

Revd Dr Robert Walker Skating on Duddingston Loch, c.1795 by Sir Henry Raeburn

Great Scots

Magazine article by Diana O'Neil, 2017

Diana O’Neil samples the tartan treats on offer in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

Federal Statistician Knibbs

The numbers man

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2011

Dr. Sarah Engledow tells the story of Australia's first Federal statistician, Sir George Knibbs.

Ned Kelly death mask

Getting a head

Magazine article by Alexandra Roginski, 2015

Alexandra Roginski gets a feel for phrenology’s fundamentals.

Mick Jagger, Madonna and Tony Curtis, 1997

The Vanity model

Magazine article by David Friend, 2009

Vanity Fair Editor David Friend describes how the rebirth of the magazine sated our desire for access into the lives of celebrities and set the standard for the new era of portrait photography.

Margot Rhys, 1935 by Athol Shmith

Progressive pictures

Magazine article by Aimee Board, 2017

Athol Shmith’s photographs contributed to the emergence of a new vision of Australian womanhood.

Mary (or Diana) Croker, mat woman, Colchester, 1823 by John Dempsey

Unknown drawer

Magazine article by Dr David Hansen, 2017

Dempsey’s People curator David Hansen chronicles a research tale replete with serendipity, adventure and Tasmanian tigers.

Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose, 1885-86 by 
John Singer Sargent

A feast of friends

Magazine article by Richard Ormond, 2015

John Singer Sargent: a painter at the vanguard of contemporary movements in music, literature and theatre.

Tom Wills, c. 1870 by William Handcock

Secure the shadow ere the substance fade

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2015

The tragic tale of Tom Wills, the ‘inventor’ of Australian Rules Football.

Portrait of Captain James Cook RN

Thrown together

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2009

Shipmates for years, James Cook and Joseph Banks each kept a journal but neither man shed light on their relationship.

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Portrait Donors

Listed by year
Honour board
The Rajah quilt, 1841 by Kezia Hayter

Material culture

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2018

The Rajah Quilt’s narrative promptings are as intriguing as the textile is intricate.

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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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.

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