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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.

Painting writing

Dr Sarah Engledow explores the portraits of writers held in the National Portrait Gallery's collection.

More information on Painting writing

Selected images

9 images
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Dame Mary Gilmore
Dame Mary Gilmore, c. 1938 Lyall Trindall. © Estate of Lyall Trindall
Thomas Keneally
Thomas Keneally, 1987 Bernd Heinrich. © Bernd Heinrich
Portrait of Elizabeth Jolley
Portrait of Elizabeth Jolley, 2003 Mary Moore. © Mary Moore
Murray Bail
Murray Bail, 1980-1981 Fred Williams. © Fred Williams
Kath Walker [Oodgeroo Noonuccal]
Kath Walker [Oodgeroo Noonuccal], 1965 Clif Peir. © Estate of Clif Peir
Peter Carey in Kelly country
Peter Carey in Kelly country, 2000 Bruce Armstrong. © Bruce Armstrong
Robert Dessaix
Robert Dessaix, 1998 Robert Hannaford AM. © Robert Hannaford/Copyright Agency, 2022
Patrick White #1
Patrick White #1, 1980 William Yang. © William Yang
True Stories - Helen Garner
True Stories - Helen Garner, 2003 Jenny Sages. © Jenny Sages
9 images
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Related information

Patrick White at Centennial Park, 1979–1980
Patrick White at Centennial Park, 1979–1980
Patrick White at Centennial Park, 1979–1980
Patrick White at Centennial Park, 1979–1980

Listomania

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2013

Sarah Engledow describes the fall-out once Brett Whiteley stuck Patrick White’s list of his loves and hates onto his great portrait of the writer.

Patrick White by William Yang

Portrait story

An interview with photographer William Yang who recalls his encounters with the author Patrick White.
Sydney city (Patrick White and Tom Uren, Hiroshima Day demonstration), 1984
Sydney city (Patrick White and Tom Uren, Hiroshima Day demonstration), 1984
Sydney city (Patrick White and Tom Uren, Hiroshima Day demonstration), 1984
Sydney city (Patrick White and Tom Uren, Hiroshima Day demonstration), 1984

The activist A-list

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2007

Dr Sarah Engledow examines a number of figures in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery who were pioneers or substantial supporters of the seminal Australian environmental campaigns of the early 1970s and 1980s.
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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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