This article examines the portraits gifted to the National Portrait Gallery by Fairfax Holdings in 2003.
Karl James reflects on soldier portraiture during the Great War.
James Angus discusses his major sculpture commission Geo Face Distributor with Christopher Chapman.
Blue Mountain, Owner, Trainer, Jockey, James Scobie 1887 by Frederick Woodhouse Snr. is a portrait of James Scobie, well known jockey and eminent horse trainer.
Karl James gives short shrift to doubts about the profile of General Sir John Monash.
Robert Oatley's continuing benefaction has helped the National Portrait Gallery acquire works that add another layer to the story of Captain Cook.
In focussing on the importance of gifts in the building of the collection, prominence must be given to the most spectacular of the National Portrait Gallery's acquisitions; the portrait of Captain James Cook RN by John Webber R.A.
Shipmates for years, James Cook and Joseph Banks each kept a journal but neither man shed light on their relationship.
Leslie Moran investigates the portraits of judges in the National Portrait Gallery's collection.
This issue of Portrait Magazine features Grace Cossington Smith, the Fairfax portrait gift and Lewis Morley's photographs.
This issue features the new National Portrait Gallery building, James Cook and John Banks, Cate Blanchett, Irina Baranova, Annette Kellerman, Shepard Fairey and more.
This issue features Australian cricketers, surfing legend Isabel Letham, Christos Tsiolkas, Bob Brown's portrait by Harold 'The Kangaroo' Thornton, James Angus, virtual portraits and more.
In February 2003 the National Portrait Gallery Circle of Friends brought Sir Robert Strong to Australia to present a series of lectures entitled The Artists & The Banquet- A History of Dining, which focused on the links between gardens and table decoration from the Renaissance to the Victorian Era.
The exhibition Portraits for Posterity celebrates gifts to the Gallery, of purchases made with donated funds, and testifies to the generosity and community spirit of Australians.
Robert Oatley talks about the repatriation of the John Webber portrait of Captain James Cook.
Former NPG Director, Andrew Sayers celebrates the support given to the Gallery by Gordon and Marilyn Darling.
The acquisition of David Moore's archive of portrait photographs for the National Portrait Gallery's collection.
In focussing on the importance of gifts in the building of the collection, prominence must be given to the most spectacular of the National Portrait Gallery's acquisitions; the portrait of Captain James Cook RN by John Webber R.A.
Christopher Chapman highlights the inaugural hang of the new National Portrait Gallery building which opened in December 2008.
James Holloway describes the first portraits you encounter when entering the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
In 2006 the National Portrait Gallery acquired a splendid portrait of Victoria's first governor, Lieutenant Governor Charles Joseph La Trobe by Thomas Woolner.
Betty Churcher AO (1931–2015), gallery director, author, painter and lecturer, was educated in Brisbane before studying art in London.
It is not well known that the person who composed the famous theme music for the BBC's Doctor Who series was Australian Ron Grainer.
Andrew Sayers outlines the highlights of the National Portrait Gallery's display of portrait sculpture.
Malcolm Robertson tells the family history of one of Australia's earliest patrons of the arts, his Scottish born great great great grandfather, William Robertson.
Joanna Gilmour on Tom Durkin playing with Melbourne's manhood.
Polly Borland's photograph of The Queen was commissioned by Buckingham Palace as part of a series of high profile celebrations to mark the Golden Jubilee.
The portrait of Ian Roberts by Ross Watson.
Andrew Sayers discusses the portrait of Dr Joan Croll AO by the Australian artist John Brack.
Joanna Gilmour explores the life of a colonial portrait artist, writer and rogue Thomas Griffiths Wainewright.
Christopher Chapman looks at influences and insight in the formative years of Arthur Boyd.
A reflection on the National Portrait Gallery's first four years.
Christopher Chapman examines the battle of glamour vs. grunge which played out in the fashion and advertising of the 1990s.
An exploration of national identity in the Canadian context drawn from the symposium Face to Face at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in 2004.
Angus Trumble ponders the many faces of William Bligh.
In April 2006 the National Portrait Gallery showcased Australian portraits at the Fredenksborg Castle in Denmark.
A brief introduction to the Weird, Wired World of Internet Portraiture.
Bess Norriss Tait created miniature watercolour portraits full of character and life.
Joanna Gilmour explores the life and art of the Australian artist Janet Dawson.
The portrait of Dr. Johann Reinhold Forster and his son George Forster from 1780, is one of the oldest in the NPG's collection.
Dr Sarah Engledow discusses Quentin Jones's photograph of Australian author Tim Winton.
Inga Walton on the brief but brilliant life of Hugh Ramsay.
An extract from the 2004 Nuala O'Flaaherty Memorial Lecture at the Queen Victoria Musuem and Art Gallery in Launceston in which Andrew Sayers reflects on the unique qualities of a portrait gallery.
Krysia Kitch reviews black chronicles at the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Dr Sarah Engledow delves into the life of union leader Pat Mackie who is depicted in a portrait by Nancy Borlase AM.
Sarah Engledow trains her exacting lens on the nine photographs from 20/20.
Christopher Chapman takes a trip through the doors of perception, arriving at the junction of surrealism and psychoanalysis.
Dr Sarah Engledow tells the story of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee portrait by Australian artist Ralph Heimans.
Anne Sanders finds connections in Inner Worlds between Hungarian expatriates and the development of psychoanalysis in Australia.
Peter Jeffrey trips the hound nostalgic.
Joanna Gilmour explores the fact and fictions surrounding the legendary life of Irish-born dancer Lola Montez.
The life and achievements of Sir Edward Holden, who is represented in the portrait collection by a bust created by Leslie Bowles.
Australia's tradition of sculpted portraits stretches back to the early decades of the nineteenth century and continues to sustain a group of dedicated sculptors.
Joanna Gilmore delights in the affecting drawings of Mathew Lynn.
Bruce Petty's animated self portrait captures a life's journey compressed into a few minutes.
Andrew Sayers describes the unique characteristics of the international band of portrait galleries.
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.
Dr Christopher Chapman explores how we can understand Richard Avedon's photographs.
To accompany the exhibition Cecil Beaton: Portraits, held at the NPG in 2005, this article is drawn from Hugo Vickers's authorised biography, Cecil Beaton (1985).
Dr Christopher Chapman, curator of Inner Worlds: Portraits & Psychology looks at Albert Tucker's Heidelberg military hospital portraits.
Gareth Knapman explores the politics and opportunism behind the portraits of Tasmania’s Black War.
Portraits of philanthropists in the collection honour their contributions to Australia and acknowledge their support of the National Portrait Gallery.
Former National Portrait Gallery Curator Magda Keaney was a member of the selection panel of the Schwepes Photographic Portrait Prize 2004 at the National Portrait Gallery London.
Michael Desmond explores the complex portrait of Dr Bob Brown by Harold 'The Kangaroo' Thornton.
Traversing paint and pixels, Inga Walton examines portraits of select women in Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits.
Joanna Gilmour explores the 1790 portrait of William Bligh by Robert Dodd.
Michael Desmond looks at the history of the Vanity Fair magazine in conjunction with the exhibition Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913-2008
Alexandra Roginski reveals a forceful feminist figure in the colonial period’s slippery science, phrenology.
A National Portrait Gallery, London exhibition redefines portraiture, shifting the focus towards a new perspective on Pop Art.
Sandra Phillips on portraits of Indigenous activism from Cairns Art Gallery’s 2019 Queen’s Land Blak Portraiture exhibition.
Sir Sidney Kidman (1857-1935) is inscribed in Australian legend as the ‘Cattle King’.
National Photographic Portrait Prize curator, Sarah Engledow, finds reward in a difficult task and ultimately uncovers the essence of portraiture.
Ashleigh Wadman rediscovers the Australian characters represented with a kindly touch by the British portrait artist Leslie Ward for the society magazine Vanity Fair.
Projecting the splendour of the empire, and the resolve of its subjects, the bust of William Birdwood keeps a stiff upper lip in the National Portrait Gallery.
Michael Desmond introduces some of the ideas behind the exhibition Present Tense: An imagined grammar of portraiture in the digital age.
Dr Anne Sanders previews the works in the new focus exhibition Paul Kelly and The Portraits.
Representations of the inhabitants of the new world expose the complexities of the colonisers' intentions.
Andrew Mayo considers the changing face of modern wedding photography through the eyes of two of its finest exponents, Dan O’Day and Kelly Tunney.
Joanna Gilmour explores the life of colonial women Lady Ellen Stirling, Eliza Darling, Lady Eliza Arthur, Elizabeth Macquarie and Lady Jane Franklin.
At just 7.8 x 6.2 cm, the daguerreotype of Thomas Sutcliffe Mort and his wife Theresa is one of the smallest works in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery.
Joanna Gilmour explores the life and times of convict-turned-artist William Buelow Gould.
George Selth Coppin (1819-1906) comedian, impresario and entrepreneur, was a driving force of the early Australian theatre.
Angus Trumble reveals the complex technical mastery behind a striking recent acquisition, Henry Bone’s enamel portrait of William Manning.
Robyn Sweaney's quiet Violet obsession.
Whether the result of misadventure or misdemeanour, many accomplished artists were transported to Australia where they ultimately left a positive mark on the history of art in this country.
Penny Grist on motivation, method and melancholy in the portraiture of Darren McDonald.
A focus on Indigenous-European relationships underpins Facing New Worlds. By Kate Fullagar.
Johanna McMahon revels in history and mystery in pursuit of a suite of unknown portrait subjects.
Jane Raffan asks do clothes make the portrait, and can the same work with a new title fetch a better price?
NPPP judge Robert Cook provides irreverent insight into this year’s fare, and having to be a bit judgemental.
Roger Benjamin explores the intriguing union of Lina Bryans and Alex Jelinek.
Sarah Engledow on Messrs Dobell and MacMahon and the art of friendship.
Karen Vickery on Chang the Chinese giant in Australia.
Sarah Engledow picks some favourites from a decade of the National Photographic Portrait Prize.
Diana O’Neil samples the tartan treats on offer in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
The portrait of Janet and Horace Keats with the spirit of the poet Christopher Brennan is brought to life by artist Dora Toovey.
Joanna Gilmour discovers that the beards of the ill-fated explorers Burke and Wills were as epic as their expedition to traverse Australia from south to north.
Christopher Chapman absorbs the gentle touch of Don Bachardy’s portraiture.
Sharon Peoples contemplates costumes and the construction of identity.
Sir William Dobell painted the portraits of Sir Charles Lloyd Jones and Sir Hudson Fysh, who did much to promote the image of Australia in this country and abroad.
Jo Gilmour uncovers endearing authenticity in the art of a twice-transported Tasmanian.
Australian character on the market by Jane Raffan.
Dr Sarah Engledow discusses the recent gift of works by David Campbell.
Dr. Sarah Engledow explores the context surrounding Charles Blackman's portrait of Judith Wright, Jack McKinney and their daughter Meredith.
Joanna Gilmour accounts for Australia’s deliciously ghoulish nineteenth century criminal portraiture.
Aimee Board reveals method, motivation and mortality in the portraiture of Rod McNicol.
Works by Arthur Boyd and Sidney Nolan bring the desert, the misty seashore and the hot Monaro plains to exhibition Open Air: Portraits in the landscape.
A toast to the acquisition of an unconventional new portrait of former Prime Minister, Stanley Melbourne Bruce.
Angus Trumble reflects on the force of nature that was Helena Rubinstein.
How seven portraits within Bare reveal in a public portrait parts of the body and elements of life usually located in the private sphere.
Joanna Gilmour looks beyond the ivory face of select portrait miniatures to reveal their sitters’ true grit.
Dr. Sarah Engledow discovers the amazing life of Ms. Hilda Spong, little remembered star of the stage, who was captured in a portrait by Tom Roberts.
John Singer Sargent: a painter at the vanguard of contemporary movements in music, literature and theatre.
Penelope Grist reminisces about the halcyon days of a print icon, before the infusion of the internet’s shades of grey.
Sarah Engledow casts a judicious eye over portraits in the Victorian Bar’s Peter O’Callaghan QC Portrait Gallery.
The Rajah Quilt’s narrative promptings are as intriguing as the textile is intricate.
Sarah Engledow lauds the very civil service of Dame Helen Blaxland.
