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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.

Peter Sculthorpe

A Celebration

Previous exhibition
from Wednesday 29 April until Sunday 19 July 2009
Peter Sculthorpe
Peter Sculthorpe, c. 1969 (detail) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore. http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/

Peter Sculthorpe AO OBE (b. 1929) is Australia's best-known composer. Born in Launceston, Tasmania and educated in Melbourne, he began composing at the age of 20, encouraged by the conductor and teacher Sir Bernard Heinze. To celebrate Peter Sculthorpe's 80th birthday, the National Portrait Gallery has created a feature exhibition of portraits and associated biographic material drawn from the National Portrait Gallery and the composer’s personal collection.

5 portraits
view all

Peter Sculthorpe
Russell Drysdale, Tallow Beach, New South Wales
Russell Drysdale and Peter Sculthorpe, Tallow Beach, New South Wales
Peter Sculthorpe
1 Peter Sculthorpe, 1982 Eric Smith. © Estate of Eric Smith. 2 Russell Drysdale, Tallow Beach, New South Wales, 1969 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/. 3 Russell Drysdale and Peter Sculthorpe, Tallow Beach, New South Wales, 1969 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/. 4 Peter Sculthorpe, 1977 (printed 2002) Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC.

Related people

Peter Sculthorpe AO OBE

Related information

Peter Sculthorpe

'Brings in the sun'

Portrait story

Legendary Australian composer, Peter Sculthorpe, describes the development of his career.
Sidney Nolan, Western Australia
Sidney Nolan, Western Australia
Sidney Nolan, Western Australia
Sidney Nolan, Western Australia

Cultural kaleidoscope

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2006

The complex connections between four creative Australians; Patrick White, Sidney Nolan, Robert Helpmann and Peter Sculthorpe.
Peter Sculthorpe
Peter Sculthorpe
Peter Sculthorpe
Peter Sculthorpe

Creative space

Magazine article by Eric Smith, 2004

Eric Smith describes the agony and finally the ecstasy of winning the 1982 Archibald Prize with the portrait of Peter Sculthorpe.
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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.

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