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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.

Impressions

Painting light and life

Impressions: Painting light and life presents portraits by, and of, artists at the heart of Australian impressionism including Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton and Frederick McCubbin.

More information on Impressions

Selected images

Tea time, c.1898–1902 by Rupert Bunny (1864–1947)

Tea time, c.1898–1902 by Rupert Bunny (1864–1947)

The red rose, 1886
by George Walton (1855–1890)

The red rose, 1886
by George Walton (1855–1890)

Priscilla, 1886 by George Walton (1855–1890)

Priscilla, 1886 by George Walton (1855–1890)

Blue and gold: portrait of Dorothy Sutherland, 1908 by Jane Sutherland (1853–1928)

Blue and gold: portrait of Dorothy Sutherland, 1908 by Jane Sutherland (1853–1928)

Portrait of a Man (Portrait of William H Read
(Arthur Streeton’s brother-in-law)), 1890 by Arthur Streeton (1867–1943)

Portrait of a Man (Portrait of William H Read
(Arthur Streeton’s brother-in-law)), 1890 by Arthur Streeton (1867–1943)

Professor Marshall-Hall, 1892 by Arthur Streeton (1867–1943)

Professor Marshall-Hall, 1892 by Arthur Streeton (1867–1943)

Mrs WH Read, 1890 by Arthur Streeton (1867–1943)

Mrs WH Read, 1890 by Arthur Streeton (1867–1943)

Frederick McCubbin, at the age of twenty-one, c.1876 by John Sommers Snr (life dates unknown)

Frederick McCubbin, at the age of twenty-one, c.1876 by John Sommers Snr (life dates unknown)

Mon ami ‘Polite’, 1900 by John Peter Russell (1858–1930)

Mon ami ‘Polite’, 1900 by John Peter Russell (1858–1930)

Dr Will Maloney, 1887 by John Peter Russell (1858–1930)

Dr Will Maloney, 1887 by John Peter Russell (1858–1930)

Sketch Portrait, Sir Alex Onslow, 1896 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Sketch Portrait, Sir Alex Onslow, 1896 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Silent Bob Bates, 1895 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Silent Bob Bates, 1895 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Portrait of a lady in a black hat, 1900 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Portrait of a lady in a black hat, 1900 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Miss Florence Greaves, 1898 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Miss Florence Greaves, 1898 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Eileen, 1892 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Eileen, 1892 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Carmen and Elizabeth Pinschof, 1900 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Carmen and Elizabeth Pinschof, 1900 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Self portrait, 1886 by Frederick McCubbin (1855–1917)

Self portrait, 1886 by Frederick McCubbin (1855–1917)

Study for Alethea, 1905 by George Lambert (1874–1930)

Study for Alethea, 1905 by George Lambert (1874–1930)

Head Study and Butterfly, c.1888 by Charles Conder (1868–1909)

Head Study and Butterfly, c.1888 by Charles Conder (1868–1909)

Returning from the garden, c.1906 by Rupert Bunny (1864–1947)

Returning from the garden, c.1906 by Rupert Bunny (1864–1947)

The sisters, 1904 by Hugh Ramsay (1877–1906)

The sisters, 1904 by Hugh Ramsay (1877–1906)

Sketch portrait of Sir Alex Onslow

Sketch portrait of Sir Alex Onslow, 1896 Tom Roberts

Self portrait (Full Length in front of Easel)

Self portrait (Full Length in front of Easel), 1901-1902 Hugh Ramsay

Portrait of John Mather, c.1886 by Louis Abrahams (1852–1903)

Portrait of John Mather, c.1886 by Louis Abrahams (1852–1903)

Bertram Mackennal, 1894 by Aby Altson (1866–1949)

Bertram Mackennal, 1894 by Aby Altson (1866–1949)

Study of a head, 1893 by Julian Ashton (1851–1942)

Study of a head, 1893 by Julian Ashton (1851–1942)

Study of Alice Muskett, 1893 by Julian Ashton (1851–1942)

Study of Alice Muskett, 1893 by Julian Ashton (1851–1942)

Portrait of the artist’s wife, c.1902 by Rupert Bunny (1864–1947)

Portrait of the artist’s wife, c.1902 by Rupert Bunny (1864–1947)

Portrait of Norman Lindsay as a student, c.1896 by George Coates (1869–1930)

Portrait of Norman Lindsay as a student, c.1896 by George Coates (1869–1930)

Petit déjeuner – sketch for ‘After breakfast’, c.1889 by Frederick McCubbin (1855–1917)

Petit déjeuner – sketch for ‘After breakfast’, c.1889 by Frederick McCubbin (1855–1917)

An Impressionist (Tom Roberts), c.1889 by Charles Conder (1868–1909)

An Impressionist (Tom Roberts), c.1889 by Charles Conder (1868–1909)

Impressionists’ camp, 1889 by Charles Conder (1868–1909)

Impressionists’ camp, 1889 by Charles Conder (1868–1909)

Portrait of Mrs Conder, c.1905 by Charles Conder (1868–1909)

Portrait of Mrs Conder, c.1905 by Charles Conder (1868–1909)

Sketch at Fairy Bower, Manly, c.1887 by Charles Conder (1868–1909)

Sketch at Fairy Bower, Manly, c.1887 by Charles Conder (1868–1909)

Miss Raynor, c.1889 by Charles Conder (1868–1909)

Miss Raynor, c.1889 by Charles Conder (1868–1909)

John Dougherty, 1895 by David Davies (1864–1939)

John Dougherty, 1895 by David Davies (1864–1939)

The Colonel (portrait of Walter Withers), 1896 by David Davies (1864–1939)

The Colonel (portrait of Walter Withers), 1896 by David Davies (1864–1939)

Study for picture of G D Carter, Mayor, Melbourne, 1885 by GF Folingsby (1828–1891)

Study for picture of G D Carter, Mayor, Melbourne, 1885 by GF Folingsby (1828–1891)

Adelaide, 1895 by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

Adelaide, 1895 by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

Arranging flowers, 1906 by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

Arranging flowers, 1906 by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

Portrait of Helen Peters, c.1895 by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

Portrait of Helen Peters, c.1895 by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

(Mother and child), 1908 by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

(Mother and child), 1908 by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

Mr Herbert Brookes, c.1913–5 by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

Mr Herbert Brookes, c.1913–5 by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

Portrait of Mary Meyer, late 1890s by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

Portrait of Mary Meyer, late 1890s by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

Sketch for ‘Art Students’, 1895 by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

Sketch for ‘Art Students’, 1895 by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

Study for ‘The love story’, c.1903 by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

Study for ‘The love story’, c.1903 by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

Sunlight effect, c.1889 by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

Sunlight effect, c.1889 by E Phillips Fox (1865–1915)

Reflections, 1898 by A Henry Fullwood (1863–1930)

Reflections, 1898 by A Henry Fullwood (1863–1930)

Edith, c.1908 by Ina Gregory (1874–1964)

Edith, c.1908 by Ina Gregory (1874–1964)

Lucy Sutton, c.1890 by Ina Gregory (1874–1964)

Lucy Sutton, c.1890 by Ina Gregory (1874–1964)

Portrait of GP Nerli, mid 1890s by Grace Joel (1865–1924)

Portrait of GP Nerli, mid 1890s by Grace Joel (1865–1924)

Paris café, c.1901 by George Lambert (1873–1930)

Paris café, c.1901 by George Lambert (1873–1930)

Self portrait, 1897 by Lionel Lindsay (1874–1961)

Self portrait, 1897 by Lionel Lindsay (1874–1961)

Boy with an apple, 1891 by Arthur Loureiro (1853–1932)

Boy with an apple, 1891 by Arthur Loureiro (1853–1932)

Bronze plaque (Portrait of a young girl), 1892 by Bertram Mackennal (1863–1931)

Bronze plaque (Portrait of a young girl), 1892 by Bertram Mackennal (1863–1931)

Sarah Bernhardt, c.1892–3 by Bertram Mackennal (1863–1931)

Sarah Bernhardt, c.1892–3 by Bertram Mackennal (1863–1931)

Study in blue and gold, 1907 by Frederick McCubbin (1855–1917)

Study in blue and gold, 1907 by Frederick McCubbin (1855–1917)

A Gypsy Belle, c.1896 by Josephine Muntz-Adams (1862–1950)

A Gypsy Belle, c.1896 by Josephine Muntz-Adams (1862–1950)

(Portrait), c.1890 by Girolamo Nerli (1860–1926)

(Portrait), c.1890 by Girolamo Nerli (1860–1926)

The sitting, 1889 by Girolamo Nerli (1860–1926)

The sitting, 1889 by Girolamo Nerli (1860–1926)

Mima Lennie, 1901 by Hugh Ramsay (1877–1906)

Mima Lennie, 1901 by Hugh Ramsay (1877–1906)

Self portrait with glasses, 1902–6 by Hugh Ramsay (1877–1906)

Self portrait with glasses, 1902–6 by Hugh Ramsay (1877–1906)

Self portrait (Full Length in front of Easel), 1901–2 by Hugh Ramsay (1877–1906)

Self portrait (Full Length in front of Easel), 1901–2 by Hugh Ramsay (1877–1906)

Alexander Augustus Anderson (snr), 1889 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Alexander Augustus Anderson (snr), 1889 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

A summer morning tiff, 1886 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

A summer morning tiff, 1886 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Frances Ross, actress, c.1898 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Frances Ross, actress, c.1898 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

La Favorita, c.1889 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

La Favorita, c.1889 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Mrs J St V Welch, 1898 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Mrs J St V Welch, 1898 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Smike Streeton age 24, 1891 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Smike Streeton age 24, 1891 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)

Five studies of Vincent van Gogh, c.1886–8 by John Peter Russell (1858–1930)

Five studies of Vincent van Gogh, c.1886–8 by John Peter Russell (1858–1930)

Madame Sisley on the banks of the Loing
at Moret, 1887 by John Peter Russell (1858–1930)

Madame Sisley on the banks of the Loing
at Moret, 1887 by John Peter Russell (1858–1930)

The Art Students: Ballarat Gallery Art School, c.1898 by Herbert H Smith (1875–1957)

The Art Students: Ballarat Gallery Art School, c.1898 by Herbert H Smith (1875–1957)

Audrey & chic-a-pick, 1911 by Clara Southern (1861–1940)

Audrey & chic-a-pick, 1911 by Clara Southern (1861–1940)

Ned Hogan, 1896 by Arthur Streeton (1867–1943)

Ned Hogan, 1896 by Arthur Streeton (1867–1943)

Orange, blue and white (portrait of Keith), 1889 by Arthur Streeton (1867–1943)

Orange, blue and white (portrait of Keith), 1889 by Arthur Streeton (1867–1943)

Jessie Sutherland, c.1905 by Jane Sutherland (1853–1928)

Jessie Sutherland, c.1905 by Jane Sutherland (1853–1928)

Portrait of Hal Waugh, c.1903–1914 by Walter Withers (1854–1914)

Portrait of Hal Waugh, c.1903–1914 by Walter Withers (1854–1914)

Related information

The sisters, 1904

The sisters, 1904

The sisters, 1904

Beguiling impressions

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2012

Sarah Engledow is seduced by the portraits and the connections between the artists and their subjects in the exhibition Impressions: Painting light and life.

Practising the Minuet (Miss Hilda Spong)

Practising the Minuet (Miss Hilda Spong)

Practising the Minuet (Miss Hilda Spong)

An actress and her fans

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2008

Dr. Sarah Engledow discovers the amazing life of Ms. Hilda Spong, little remembered star of the stage, who was captured in a portrait by Tom Roberts.

Sir Macfarlane Burnet

Sir Macfarlane Burnet

Sir Macfarlane Burnet

Picture this...

Magazine article by Andrew Sayers AM, 2003

This edited version of a speech by Andrew Sayers examines some of the antecedents of the National Portrait Gallery and set out the ideas behind the modern Gallery and its collection.

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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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