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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.

An actress and her fans

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.

More information on An actress and her fans

Selected images

6 images
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Practising the Minuet (Miss Hilda Spong)
Practising the Minuet (Miss Hilda Spong), 1893 Tom Roberts
Julian Ashton
Julian Ashton, 1931 Harold Cazneaux
Hilda Spong, c.1890
Hilda Spong, c.1890
Tom Roberts
Tom Roberts, 1920 Alice Mills
Hilda Spong, c.1900
Hilda Spong, c.1900
Arthur Streeton
Arthur Streeton, c. 1890 H. Walter Barnett
6 images
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Related information

Practising the Minuet

'Who was Hilda Spong?'

Portrait story

Broadway star Miss Hilda Spong was painted by Tom Roberts in 1893.
The sisters, 1904
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.
Sir Macfarlane Burnet
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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