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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.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Professor Paul Korner

2011
Andrew Sullivan

oil on canvas (frame: 128.2 cm x 77.0 cm, support: 122.5 cm x 71.5 cm)

Paul Korner AO (1925-2012), cardiovascular physiologist, fled his native Czechoslovakia with his family at the age of thirteen. Having spent a year in England, they came to Australia, where Paul was soon dux of Barker College, Hornsby. In 1943, he enrolled at the University of Sydney, where he completed a BSc, a MSc and a medical degree within eight years. Having spent his residency at Royal Price Alfred Hospital, in 1952 he proceeded to the Kanematsu Research Institute at Sydney Hospital. Interested, at this time, by the link between hypoxia and pulmonary capillary permeability, he went on to the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, and then to Harvard. Upon return to Australia in 1956 he took up a senior lecturer position at the University of Sydney; four years later, he was offered the foundation chair in physiology at the University of New South Wales. In 1968 he became the foundation Scandrett professor of cardiology at the University of Sydney; from 1975 to 1990 he was director of the Baker Medical Research Institute in Melbourne. During his career Korner tackled a number of scientific questions in the fields of exercise physiology and circulatory control, but his definitive book is Essential Hypertension and Its Causes: Neural and Non-Neural Mechanisms.

Sulman Prize-winning artist Andrew Sullivan pictured Korner at home with his beloved dog, Star.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Ann Korner, Nicholas Korner, Anthony Korner and Harriet Bingham 2015
© Andrew Sullivan

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

Andrew Sullivan

Professor Paul I. Korner AO FAA (age 86 in 2011)

Subject professions

Health and medicine

Donated by

Anthony Korner (1 portrait)

Nicholas Korner (1 portrait)

Harriet Bingham (1 portrait)

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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.

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