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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.

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The Last Picture Show (Lewis Morley and Henry Talbot)

1999
Lewis Morley

gelatin silver photograph on paper (sheet: 40.3 cm x 30.4 cm, image: 17.6 cm x 27.5 cm)

Henry Fox Talbot (1920-1999), photographer, was born Henry Tichauer. The son of a middle-class Jewish family, he changed his name after fleeing Germany and being 'volunteered' out of England on the Dunera. Arriving in Australia, he was interned at Hay amongst the group known as the 'Dunera boys'. On release he went fruit picking near Tocumwal, where he met a German photographer, Helmut Neustadter, who was to become famous as Helmut Newton. The two men set up a photographic studio in Melbourne, which Newton left to pursue international fame in 1963. In 1974 Talbot curtailed his innovative fashion photography practice and began teaching. He moved to Sydney in 1985, meeting Morley soon after. This photograph was taken in Longueville Private Hospital, where Talbot was dying of cancer. Using a half-frame camera, Morley took a photo of Talbot. Talbot requested the camera and took a half-frame shot of Morley. Thus, later, in his darkroom, Morley developed the last photo by - and the last photo of - his friend.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2003
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
© Lewis Morley Archive LLC

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Lewis Morley (age 74 in 1999)

Henry Talbot (age 79 in 1999)

Subject professions

Visual arts and crafts

Donated by

Lewis Morley (49 portraits)

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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 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