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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.

Sir Alfred Stephen, 1898 (detail)

by Allen Hutchinson (wking 1880s-90s)

Sir Alfred Stephen, 1898 (detail)

marble bust 68.8 x 47.5 x 28 cm
Art Gallery of New South Wales. Commissioned by the Trustees 1898. Purchased 1899
A posthumous bust of the NSW Chief Justice and legislator (1802-94), founding trustee of the National Gallery of NSW, and a pinnacle of mid-nineteenth century Sydney society, depicted pragmatically as an old man.

Presence and Absence
(More information, View all 12 images)

Child’s head

Related information

Decorative portrait – Len Lye, c.1925 by Rayner Hoff (1894-1937)
Decorative portrait – Len Lye, c.1925 by Rayner Hoff (1894-1937)
Decorative portrait – Len Lye, c.1925 by Rayner Hoff (1894-1937)
Decorative portrait – Len Lye, c.1925 by Rayner Hoff (1894-1937)

Presence and Absence

Portrait Sculpture in Australia

Previous exhibition, 2003

This exhibition focuses on exploring national and communal identity through sculptural production in Australia, from the early decades of settlement through to the present day
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The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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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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