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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.

Portraits for Posterity

Drawn from some of the many donations made to the Gallery's collection, the exhibition Portraits for Posterity pays homage both to the remarkable (and varied) group of Australians who are portrayed in the portraits and the generosity of the many donors who have presented them to the Gallery.

More information on Portraits for Posterity

Selected images

Portrait of Professor Graeme Clark
Portrait of Professor Graeme Clark, 2000 Peter Wegner. © Peter Wegner
Dame Joan Sutherland
Dame Joan Sutherland, c. 1977 Robert Hannaford AM. © Robert Hannaford/Copyright Agency, 2024
Sir George Coles
Sir George Coles, 1935 W B McInnes
Joan Croll
Joan Croll, 1976 John Brack. © Helen Brack
Edward Knox
Edward Knox, c. 1927-1929 W B McInnes
Lady Knox
Lady Knox, c. 1927-1929 W B McInnes
Colin McCahon, Auckland, New Zealand
Colin McCahon, Auckland, New Zealand, 1963 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/
Judy Davis on the set of 'Heatwave', Sydney
Judy Davis on the set of 'Heatwave', Sydney, 1981 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/
Sidney Nolan, Western Australia
Sidney Nolan, Western Australia, 1962 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/
Ed Murrow, New York
Ed Murrow, New York, 1956 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/
David Gulpilil, Arnhem Land
David Gulpilil, Arnhem Land, 1981 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/
Portrait of Captain James Cook RN
Portrait of Captain James Cook RN, 1782 John Webber
Dr Peter Farrell
Dr Peter Farrell, 2001 Salvatore Zofrea OAM. © Salvatore Zofrea/Copyright Agency, 2024
Hélène Kirsova in Petrouchka
Hélène Kirsova in Petrouchka, 1936-1937 Max Dupain OBE
Russell Drysdale
Russell Drysdale, 1960 Max Dupain OBE. © Max Dupain/Copyright Agency, 2024
Kumantjayi Perkins at the Roma Forum, Brisbane
Kumantjayi Perkins at the Roma Forum, Brisbane, 1982 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2024
Chicka Dixon
Chicka Dixon, 1980 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2024
Mum Shirl (Mrs Shirley Smith)
Mum Shirl (Mrs Shirley Smith), 1988 Juno Gemes. © Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2024
Sir James Hardy
Sir James Hardy, c. 1975 (printed 2002) Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC
Babette Hayes, London
Babette Hayes, London, early 1960s Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC
Ilsa Konrads
Ilsa Konrads, c. 1976 (printed 2002) Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC
Florence Broadhurst
Florence Broadhurst, 1975 Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC
Portrait bust of Dr Christine Rivett
Portrait bust of Dr Christine Rivett, c. 1950 (cast 1955-1956) Daphne Mayo MBE. © Estate of Daphne Mayo
Graeme Murphy
Graeme Murphy, 1977 (printed 2002) Lewis Morley. © Lewis Morley Archive LLC
Patrick Johnson
Patrick Johnson, c. 2000 Penny Tweedie. © Estate of Penny Tweedie
Kerrie Lester
Kerrie Lester, 1990 Anne Zahalka. © Anne Zahalka/Copyright Agency, 2024
Susan Norrie
Susan Norrie, 1990 Anne Zahalka. © Anne Zahalka/Copyright Agency, 2024
Stanley Bruce
Stanley Bruce, 1937 Barbara Tribe. © Estate of Barbara Tribe
Akira Isogawa
Akira Isogawa, 2001 Peter Brew-Bevan. © Peter Brew-Bevan
Sir Edward Holden
Sir Edward Holden, 1945 Leslie Bowles
Naomi Watts
Naomi Watts, 2003 Peter Brew-Bevan. © Peter Brew-Bevan courtesy of Sue Southam Management
Marea Gazzard
Marea Gazzard, 1966 Judy Cassab AO CBE. © Judy Cassab/Copyright Agency, 2024
Mungo MacCallum
Mungo MacCallum, 1968 Judy Cassab AO CBE. © Judy Cassab/Copyright Agency, 2024
Vali Myers
Vali Myers, 2001 Eva Collins. © Eva Collins
Self portrait
Self portrait, late 1930s Sir William Dargie CBE. © Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie
Sir Arvi Parbo
Sir Arvi Parbo, 1993 Sir William Dargie CBE. © Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie
Essington Lewis
Essington Lewis, 1952 Sir William Dargie CBE. © Roger Dargie and Faye Dargie
Self portrait
Self portrait, between 1951 and 1953 Janet Dawson. © Janet Dawson/Copyright Agency, 2024
Tommy, Broken Bay tribe
Tommy, Broken Bay tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough
Bill Worrall, Five Islands tribe
Bill Worrall, Five Islands tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough
Punch, wife of Cullabaa, Broken Bay tribe
Punch, wife of Cullabaa, Broken Bay tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough
Jemmy, Newcastle tribe
Jemmy, Newcastle tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough
Mary, Botany Bay tribe
Mary, Botany Bay tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough
Mickie, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle tribe
Mickie, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough
Cullabaa, native of Lake George, Five Islands tribe
Cullabaa, native of Lake George, Five Islands tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough
Bungaree, late chief of the Broken Bay tribe, Sydney
Bungaree, late chief of the Broken Bay tribe, Sydney, 1836 William Fernyhough
Boardman, Lake Macquarie tribe
Boardman, Lake Macquarie tribe, 1836 William Fernyhough
Gooseberry, widow of King Bungaree
Gooseberry, widow of King Bungaree, 1836 William Fernyhough
image not online
NC
Self portrait, 1992 Rolf Harris
Dame Roma Mitchell
Dame Roma Mitchell, 1998 Jessica Hromas. © Jessica Hromas
Self portrait
Self portrait, 2002 Barry Humphries. © Barry Humphries
Sir Mark Oliphant
Sir Mark Oliphant, c. 1948 Lotte Meitner-Graf
Self portrait (Full Length in front of Easel)
Self portrait (Full Length in front of Easel), 1901-1902 Hugh Ramsay
Portrait of Paddy Japaljarrii Stewart
Portrait of Paddy Japaljarrii Stewart, 2004 Francis Reiss. © Estate of Francis Reiss
Sir James Reading Fairfax
Sir James Reading Fairfax, 1898 Tom Roberts
Bee Miles
Bee Miles, 1976 Roderick Shaw. © Estate of Rod Shaw
Self portrait
Self portrait, 2001 Jeffrey Smart AO. © Estate of Jeffrey Smart
Portrait of Mrs Sarah Fairfax
Portrait of Mrs Sarah Fairfax, c. 1864 Edwin Dalton
Mrs Elizabeth Lewis
Mrs Elizabeth Lewis, c. 1830 an unknown artist
John Knatchbull, Murderer of Mrs Ellen Jamieson
John Knatchbull, Murderer of Mrs Ellen Jamieson, 1844 Charles Rodius, Hiberian Printing Office
Mr Mortimer Lewis
Mr Mortimer Lewis, c. 1828 an unknown artist
Murray Bail
Murray Bail, 1980-1981 Fred Williams. © Fred Williams
image not online
NC
Peter Porter, 2004 Tony Clark
Mirror Mirror: Graeme Murphy
Mirror Mirror: Graeme Murphy, 2004 Paula Dawson AM. © Paula Dawson/Copyright Agency, 2024
Sketch for Prime Minister Robert Menzies
Sketch for Prime Minister Robert Menzies, 1960 Sir William Dobell OBE. © William Dobell/Copyright Agency, 2024
Study for Portrait of W S Robinson
Study for Portrait of W S Robinson, 1952 Sir William Dobell OBE. © William Dobell/Copyright Agency, 2024
Victor and Loti Smorgon
Victor and Loti Smorgon, 1995 (printed 2001) Kate Gollings. © Estate of Kate Gollings
Evonne Goolagong
Evonne Goolagong, 1973 Ern McQuillan OAM. © Michael McQuillan's Classic Photographs
Heather McKay
Heather McKay, 1980 Ern McQuillan OAM. © Michael McQuillan's Classic Photographs
Sir Ian Potter
Sir Ian Potter, 1968 Mark Strizic. © Estate of Mark Strizic
Norma Redpath
Norma Redpath, 1964 Mark Strizic. © Estate of Mark Strizic
Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch
Portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, 2000 Australian Tapestry Workshop, Merrill Dumbrell, Christopher Pyett, Normana Wight. © Australian Tapestry Workshop
Andrew Southall
Andrew Southall, 1995 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2024
Manning Clark
Manning Clark, 1990 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2024
Alex Miller
Alex Miller, 1992 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2024
Self portrait
Self portrait, 1999 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2024
image not online
NC
Rolf Harris, 1989 Rick Amor
John Perceval
John Perceval, 1985 Rick Amor. © Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2024
Jimmy Little, Sydney
Jimmy Little, Sydney, 2004 John Elliott. © John Elliott
John Williamson, Springbrook, Qld
John Williamson, Springbrook, Qld, 2004 John Elliott. © John Elliott
Smoky Dawson, Sydney
Smoky Dawson, Sydney, 2004 John Elliott. © John Elliott
Kasey Chambers, Sydney
Kasey Chambers, Sydney, 2004 John Elliott. © John Elliott
Troy Cassar-Daley, Brisbane
Troy Cassar-Daley, Brisbane, 2004 John Elliott. © John Elliott
Eugene Goossens
Eugene Goossens, c. 1954 Max Dupain OBE
Hudson Fysh
Hudson Fysh, c. 1950 Max Dupain OBE
Arnold Haskell
Arnold Haskell, 1937 Max Dupain OBE
David Combe and the portrait
David Combe and the portrait, 1983 Keith Looby. © Keith Looby
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, 1932 Enid Fleming. © Estate of Enid Fleming
Captain Ulm
Captain Ulm, 1932 Enid Fleming. © Estate of Enid Fleming
Harry Seidler, Killara, Sydney
Harry Seidler, Killara, Sydney, 1984 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/
Norman Lindsay
Norman Lindsay, 1936 Max Dupain OBE
Chips Rafferty
Chips Rafferty, c. 1945 Max Dupain OBE
Patricia 'Bambi' Tuckwell (Shmith)
Patricia 'Bambi' Tuckwell (Shmith), c. 1952 Max Dupain OBE
Tamara Tchinarova
Tamara Tchinarova, 1938 Max Dupain OBE
Tania Verstak
Tania Verstak, 1962 Jozef Vissel. © Jozef Vissel
William Dobell, Potts Point, Sydney
William Dobell, Potts Point, Sydney, 1960 (printed 2000) David Moore. © Lisa, Michael, Matthew and Joshua Moore
http://davidmoorephotography.com.au/
Sir Gustav Nossal
Sir Gustav Nossal, 2004 Dean Home. © Dean Home
The family
The family, c. 1955 Charles Blackman OBE. © Charles Blackman/Copyright Agency, 2024
Barry Humphries
Barry Humphries, 1958 Clifton Pugh AO. © Shane Pugh
Fred Gruen
Fred Gruen, 1941 Erwin Fabian. © Estate of Erwin Fabian
Self portrait with gladioli
Self portrait with gladioli, 1922 George Lambert
Head study for portrait of Margaret Olley
Head study for portrait of Margaret Olley, 1994 Jeffrey Smart AO. © Estate of Jeffrey Smart
© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

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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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