Peter Wegner's approach to portraiture could be considered a visual record of the rapport, the dynamic space between artist and subject.
Angus Trumble pays tribute to John Clarke.
Katherine Russell examines the art of Australian artist Paul Newton, referencing the portraiture of John Singer Sargent.
The name of Florence Broadhurst, one of Australia’s most significant wallpaper and textile designers, is now firmly cemented in the canon of Australian art and design.
The full-length portrait of HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark by artist Jiawei Shen, has become a destination piece for visitors.
Peter Wilmoth’s boy-journalist toolkit for antagonising an Australian political giant.
Eric Smith describes the agony and finally the ecstasy of winning the 1982 Archibald Prize with the portrait of Peter Sculthorpe.
Peter Jeffrey trips the hound nostalgic.
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.
Magda Keaney explores the symbolism in eX de Medici's portrait of Midnight Oil.
Olegas Truchanas and Peter Dombrovskis, photographers and conservationists, shared a love of photography and exploring wilderness areas of Tasmania.
The story behind Rick Amor's portrait of Professor Peter Doherty.
The National Portrait Gallery has acquired an evocative depiction of soldier Peter Cosgrove by the Victorian-based painter, printmaker and sculptor Rick Amor.
The complex connections between four creative Australians; Patrick White, Sidney Nolan, Robert Helpmann and Peter Sculthorpe.
Aimee Board ventures within and beyond to consider two remarkable new Gallery acquisitions.
Dr Sarah Engledow examines a number of figures in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery who were pioneers or substantial supporters of the seminal Australian environmental campaigns of the early 1970s and 1980s.
Dr Sarah Engledow explores the portraits of writers held in the National Portrait Gallery's collection.
This issue of Portrait Magazine features portraits by Rick Amor, colonial charicatures, Les Murray, Peter Porter, Helen Garner and more.
This issue of Portrait Magazine features Peter Brew-Bevan, daguerreotypes, the exhibition Depth of Field, Ern McQuillan's photographs of sportspeople and more.
This issue of Portrait Magazine features the Reveries: On Photography and Mortality exhibition, Peter Cosgrove, Martin Sharp, Terence Tao and more.
This issue of Portrait Magazine features conservationists Olegas Truchanas and Peter Dombrovskis, Michael Leunig, legendary photographer Cecil Beaton and more.
This issue of Portrait Magazine features articles on Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, George Lambert's self-portrait, Professor Peter Doherty, the man behind the Dr. Who theme, and more.
Hugh Ramsay, the fashion of Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson, Peter Wegner's centenarian series, John and Elizabeth Gould's family connections, Karen Quinlan's top five portraits and more.
The exhibition Australians in Hollywood celebrated the achievements of Australians in the highly competitive American film industry.
Jessica Smith looks at the 'fetching' portrait of Tasmania's first Anglican Bishop, Francis Russell Nixon by George Richmond
Peter Brew-Bevan discusses two experiences where his plans for his portraits produced surprising results.
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.
A reflection on the National Portrait Gallery's first four years.
Rod McNicol's method and motivation, 19th century Indigenous peoples, Barrie Cassidy on Bob Hawke, five generations of the Kang family from Korea and more.
Pat Corrigan's generous gift of 100 photographic portraits by Greg Weight.
Australian photographer Karin Catt has shot across the spectrum of celebrity, her subjects including rock stars, world leaders and actors.
Curator Michael Desmond introduces the exhibition Truth and Likeness, an investigation of the importance of likeness to portraiture.
Penelope Grist discovers the rich narratives in Peter Wegner’s series of centenarian portraits.
Bob Ellis (1942–2016) was a journalist, columnist, screenwriter, film director, playwright, speechwriter and critic.
The acquisition of David Moore's archive of portrait photographs for the National Portrait Gallery's collection.
Drawn from the Gallery's collection, the exhibition Face the Music explores the remarkable talents and achievements of Australian musicians, composers, conductors and celebrities associated with the music industry.
The then Minister for the Arts and Sport, Rod Kemp, reflects on the value of the Cultural Gifts Program.
Artist David M Thomas lists some of the ideas and influences behind his video portraits.
Jennifer Coombes explores the lush images of Picnic at Hanging Rock, featuring Anne-Louise Lambert’s Miranda, the face of the film.
Sarah Engledow pens a fond farewell to acclaimed science historian Ann Moyal.
Penny Grist on motivation, method and melancholy in the portraiture of Darren McDonald.
Peter Ciemitis breached regulations when creating the portrait of the polymath environmental scientist George Seddon.
David Ward writes about the exhibition Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture on display at the National Portrait Gallery, Washington.
Henri-Cartier-Bresson invented the grammar for photographing life in the 20th century.
Joanna Gilmour explores photographic depictions of Aboriginal sportsmen including Lionel Rose, Dave Sands, Jerry Jerome and Douglas Nicholls.
The portrait of Janet and Horace Keats with the spirit of the poet Christopher Brennan is brought to life by artist Dora Toovey.
Studio: Australian Painters Photographed by R. Ian Lloyd presents 61 of some of Australia’s most respected and significant painters working in the studio environment.
Bess Norriss Tait created miniature watercolour portraits full of character and life.
Sarah Engledow is seduced by the portraits and the connections between the artists and their subjects in the exhibition Impressions: Painting light and life.
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.
Angus Trumble salutes the glorious portraiture of Sir Thomas Lawrence.
Former NPG Director, Andrew Sayers celebrates the support given to the Gallery by Gordon and Marilyn Darling.
Stephen Valambras Graham traverses the intriguing socio-political terrain behind two iconic First Nations portraits of the 1850s.
Portraits of philanthropists in the collection honour their contributions to Australia and acknowledge their support of the National Portrait Gallery.
Bon Scott and Angus Young photographed by Rennie Ellis are part of a display celebrating summer and images of the shirtless male.
Christopher Chapman profiles Chris Lilley, actor and creator of Angry Boys.
Penelope Grist spends some quality time with the Portrait Gallery’s summer collection exhibition, Eye to Eye.
Nancy Wake AC (b. 1912), one of the most decorated women of World War 2, earned the name the 'White Mouse' for her maddening ability to evade the Gestapo.
In April 2006 the National Portrait Gallery showcased Australian portraits at the Fredenksborg Castle in Denmark.
Phil Manning celebrates a century of Brisbane photographic portraiture.
Michael Desmond profiles the Australian songwriter and performer Neil Murray and his contribution to Australian music.
Michelle Fracaro examines the life of World War II nurse Margaret Anderson, whose portrait by Napier Waller is in the NPG collection.
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.
Long after the portraitist became indifferent to her, and died, a beguiling portrait hung over its subject.
Sarah Engledow picks some favourites from a decade of the National Photographic Portrait Prize.
Scott Redford discusses his dynamic portrait commission of motorcycling champion and 2008 Young Australian of the Year Casey Stoner.
Dr Sarah Engledow describes the achievements of internationally renowned burns and trauma surgeon Professor Fiona Wood.
Joanna Gilmour explores the 1790 portrait of William Bligh by Robert Dodd.
Chris O'Doherty, also known as Reg Mombassa, is best-known for his Mambo imagery but he also paints a lot of self portraits.
Dr Anne Sanders previews the works in the new focus exhibition Paul Kelly and The Portraits.
Dr Sarah Engledow tells the story of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee portrait by Australian artist Ralph Heimans.
Sarah Engledow on a foundational gallery figure who was quick on the draw.
The biographical exhibition of Barry Humphries was the first display of its kind at the National Portrait Gallery.
Michael Desmond looks at the history of the Vanity Fair magazine in conjunction with the exhibition Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913-2008
Celebrates the centenary of the first national art collection, the Historic Memorials Collection, housed at Australia's Parliament House.
Joanna Gilmour explores the life of a colonial portrait artist, writer and rogue Thomas Griffiths Wainewright.
Lecture by Sandy Nairne, Director, National Portrait Gallery, London, given at the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra on 28 April 2006.
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.
The Australian public was invited in 2008 to vote for their favourite Australian. After the votes were tallied an exhibition of the top-ten Popular Australians and the top-twenty unsung heroes was displayed at the National Portrait Gallery.
Anne Sanders and Christopher Chapman bring passionate characterisation to Express Yourself, the Portrait Gallery collection exhibition celebrating iconoclastic Australians.
One half of the team that was Eltham Films left scarcely a trace in the written historical record, but survives in a vivid portrait.
David Gist steps beyond the public relations veneer of Australia’s official Vietnam War portrait photographs.
Scientists tend to conjure up images of men in white coats in labs but this is just one stereotype in an evolving history of how we have perceived scientists, and how their profession has been understood over the years.
Karl James gives short shrift to doubts about the profile of General Sir John Monash.
Christopher Chapman highlights the inaugural hang of the new National Portrait Gallery building which opened in December 2008.
Sarah Engledow previews the beguiling summer exhibition, Idle hours.
The exhibition Depth of Field displays a selection of portrait photographs that reflect the strength and diversity of Australian achievement.
Michael Desmond explores what makes a portrait subject significant.
Lee Tulloch remembers her great friend NIDA-trained actor turned photographer Stuart Campbell.
Sarah Engledow casts a judicious eye over portraits in the Victorian Bar’s Peter O’Callaghan QC Portrait Gallery.
As the National Portrait Gallery opens its exhibition of portrait and figurative work by veteran photographer Sam Haskins, the artist reflects on the highlights of his fifty-year career so far.
Christopher Chapman contemplates the provocative performance art of Chris Burden.
Martin Sharp fulfils the Pop art idiom of merging art and life.
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.
An exhibition of humanness in ten themes by Penelope Grist.
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.
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.
Sarah Engledow likes the manifold mediums of Nicholas Harding’s portraiture.
Anne Sanders finds connections in Inner Worlds between Hungarian expatriates and the development of psychoanalysis in Australia.
This edited version of a speech by Andrew Sayers examines some of the antecedents of the National Portrait Gallery and set out the ideas behind the modern Gallery and its collection.
Australian character on the market by Jane Raffan.
Robyn Sweaney's quiet Violet obsession.
Dr. Sarah Engledow explores the context surrounding Charles Blackman's portrait of Judith Wright, Jack McKinney and their daughter Meredith.
Jane Raffan investigates auction sales of self portraits nationally and internationally.
Sarah Engledow trains her exacting lens on the nine photographs from 20/20.
Jenny Gall delves into Starstruck to celebrate some of Australian cinema’s iconic women.
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.
A toast to the acquisition of an unconventional new portrait of former Prime Minister, Stanley Melbourne Bruce.
Tenille Hands explores a portrait prize gifted to the National Screen and Sound Archive.
Sharon Peoples contemplates costumes and the construction of identity.
Dr. Sarah Engledow discusses a collection of drawings and prints by the Victorian artist Rick Amor acquired in 2005.
Tom Fryer surveys the twentieth-century architectural project, and finds representation and the portrait were integral elements.
Dr Sarah Engledow discusses the recent gift of works by David Campbell.
Aimee Board traces Judy Cassab’s path to the Australian outback, arriving at the junction of inspiration and abstraction.
Alexandra Roginski gets a feel for phrenology’s fundamentals.
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).
Traudi Allen discovers sensitivity, humour and fine draughtsmanship in the portraiture of John Perceval.
Sarah Engledow lauds the very civil service of Dame Helen Blaxland.
Judith Pugh reflects on Clifton Pugh's approach to portrait making.
How seven portraits within Bare reveal in a public portrait parts of the body and elements of life usually located in the private sphere.
John Singer Sargent: a painter at the vanguard of contemporary movements in music, literature and theatre.
Dr Sarah Engledow puts four gifts to the National Portrait Gallery’s Collection in context.
Sarah Engledow bristles at the biographers’ neglect of Kitchener’s antipodean intervention.
