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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.

Bust-length portrait of King Jack Waterman, an indigenous Australian man, wearing a gorget, or kingplate, around his neck and a scarf or bandanna around his head, 1834

Bust-length portrait of King Jack Waterman, an indigenous Australian man, wearing a gorget, or kingplate, around his neck and a scarf or bandanna around his head, 1834

pencil, black, red and white chalk with stump

Expect the unexpected
(More information, View all 12 images)

Two portrait views of the head of an un-named young bearded indigenous Australian man, full face and in profile to left, 1834-5
Portrait of Oltery[?] Chief of Otago, New Zealand, a heavily-tattooed Maori man in profile to right
Portrait of Qualla[?] from Otago, New Zealand, a tattooed Maori man in profile to left, with, lower left, a detail of the tattoo between his eyebrows, 1834-5
Bust-length portrait of ‘Edanghe from long Islands’, a heavily-tattooed Maori man, 1834-35

Related information

Self portrait
Self portrait
Self portrait
Self portrait

Expect the unexpected

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2019

Joanna Gilmour revels in accidental artist Charles Rodius’ nineteenth century renderings of Indigenous peoples.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
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 building at night
The National Portrait Gallery building at night
The National Portrait Gallery building at night
The National Portrait Gallery building at night

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© National Portrait Gallery 2026
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

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