© National Portrait Gallery 2025
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
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charcoal on paper
77 x 56 cm
Collection of Nicholas Harding and Lynne Watkins, Sydney
In 2011 Harding started on a portrait of his good friend Hugo Weaving, which was worked-up over several sittings at the actor’s Sydney home. During the first sitting Weaving was a trifle self-conscious, and Harding a little disconcerted by Weaving’s having shaved for a new role. The situation seemed somewhat artificial. This pair of drawings is the fruit of the second sitting, when the beard was back and Weaving was more at ease. There is a remarkable contrast between the heads of Weaving rendered flat in charcoal on paper, and veritably sculpted in oil paint on canvas (particularly over the actor’s left eye and temple area).
Nicholas Harding: 28 portraits features paintings of Robert Drewe, John Bell and Hugo Weaving alongside gorgeously coloured recent oil portraits, delicate gouaches and bold ink and charcoal drawings.
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