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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.

Sideshow Alley

Infamy, the macabre & the portrait

Death masks, post-mortem drawings and other spooky and disquieting portraits... Come and see how portraits of infamous Australians were used in the 19th century.

More information on Sideshow Alley

Selected images

49 images
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Ned Kelly death mask
an unknown artist after Maximilian Kreitmayer Ned Kelly death mask date unknown
William Baker Ashton, First Governor of Adelaide Gaol
Henry H. Glover William Baker Ashton, First Governor of Adelaide Gaol c. 1849
The Bushranger Tragedy (from The Australasian Sketcher, 23 November 1878)
an unknown artist The Bushranger Tragedy (from The Australasian Sketcher, 23 November 1878)
At the Pantechnetheca, Exhibition, Eastern Arcade, Dominick Sonsee, the smallest man in the world
William Burman At the Pantechnetheca, Exhibition, Eastern Arcade, Dominick Sonsee, the smallest man in the world c. 1880
Chinese giant Chonkwicsee and companion
Arthur William Burman Chinese giant Chonkwicsee and companion 1876
Master Molteno
Townsend Duryea Master Molteno c. 1866
William Francis King, 'The Flying Pieman'
John Davis William Francis King, 'The Flying Pieman' c. 1869
Thomas Muir of Huntershill
John Kay Thomas Muir of Huntershill 1838
John Pascoe Fawkner
Batchelder & Company Photo John Pascoe Fawkner c. 1867
George Barrington
John Chapman George Barrington 1820
The Burke and Wills Monument
Thomas Foster Chuck The Burke and Wills Monument 1869
Charles Kean
H N. King Charles Kean c. 1865
Reverend Nathaniel Kinsman
unknown artist Reverend Nathaniel Kinsman c. 1880
Chang the Chinese Giant with his wife Kin Foo and manager Edward Parlett
Archibald McDonald Chang the Chinese Giant with his wife Kin Foo and manager Edward Parlett c. 1871
Chang the Chinese giant in European dress with Chinese boy and three European men, one of whom is his manager
Archibald McDonald Chang the Chinese giant in European dress with Chinese boy and three European men, one of whom is his manager c. 1871
Self portrait
Charles Rodius Self portrait c. 1849
William John Wills, 2nd in command of the Victorian Expedition
unknown artist after Thomas Adams Hill William John Wills, 2nd in command of the Victorian Expedition 1860-1861
Robert O'Hara Burke, Leader of the Victorian Expedition
unknown artist after Thomas Adams Hill Robert O'Hara Burke, Leader of the Victorian Expedition 1860-1861
John Knatchbull, Murderer of Mrs Ellen Jamieson
unknown artist John Knatchbull, Murderer of Mrs Ellen Jamieson 1844
In memory of the Rev William Hill
Charles Wherrett In memory of the Rev William Hill 1869
Chang the Chinese giant with his manager cowering on the floor
an unknown artist Chang the Chinese giant with his manager cowering on the floor c. 1871
Chang the Chinese giant with his wife Kin Foo
an unknown artist Chang the Chinese giant with his wife Kin Foo c. 1871
Chang the Chinese giant and party
Paterson Brothers Chang the Chinese giant and party c. 1871
HRH Prince Alfred
an unknown artist HRH Prince Alfred c. 1868
George Selth Coppin
an unknown artist George Selth Coppin c. 1863
Marianne Egan and her children Gertrude Evans Cahuac and Henry William Cahuac
an unknown artist Marianne Egan and her children Gertrude Evans Cahuac and Henry William Cahuac 1857
Master Johnny Day, Australian Champion Pedestrian
an unknown artist Master Johnny Day, Australian Champion Pedestrian c. 1866
John Frost
an unknown artist John Frost 1839
The Memoirs of George Barrington
an unknown artist The Memoirs of George Barrington 1790
Robert O'Hara Burke
Melbourne and Sydney Photographic Co Robert O'Hara Burke c. 1860
The Tichborne Claimant (Arthur Orton)
Maull & Co Photographers The Tichborne Claimant (Arthur Orton) c. 1872
Thomas Pearce
The Photographic Society of Victoria, Melbourne Thomas Pearce c. 1878
The Australian Tom Thumb (John David Armstrong)
J D. Cooper The Australian Tom Thumb (John David Armstrong) c. 1880
Charles Summers
Batchelder & Company Photo Charles Summers late 1860s
Mr and Mrs Case
Alexander Fox and Co Mr and Mrs Case 1864
William Saurin Lyster
Davies & Co William Saurin Lyster mid to late 1860s
Henry Squires
Dalton's Royal Photographic Gallery Henry Squires c. 1861
Lucy Escott
Dalton's Royal Photographic Gallery Lucy Escott c. 1861
Gustavus Brooke
Burman and Son Gustavus Brooke c. 1865
Nicholas Chevalier
Johnstone, O'Shannessy & Co Nicholas Chevalier c. 1867
Julia Matthews
Davies & Co Julia Matthews c. 1862
Scrapbook page featuring portraits of Fred Lowry and Frank Gardiner
an unknown artist, Freeman Brothers Scrapbook page featuring portraits of Fred Lowry and Frank Gardiner c. 1863
Barrington picking the pocket of J Brown Esqr.
Barrington picking the pocket of J Brown Esqr.
Andrew George Scott, alias Captain Moonlite, c.1879 attributed to Charles Nettleton
Andrew George Scott, alias Captain Moonlite, c.1879 attributed to Charles Nettleton
Joe Byrne’s body displayed for photographers at Benalla police station
Joe Byrne’s body displayed for photographers at Benalla police station
Daniel Morgan, bushranger, shot at Pechelba [sic] Station, April 9th 1865
Daniel Morgan, bushranger, shot at Pechelba [sic] Station, April 9th 1865
Donohoe c.1830, attributed to Thomas Mitchell (1792-1855)
Donohoe c.1830, attributed to Thomas Mitchell (1792-1855)
Vue intérieure de la morgue
Vue intérieure de la morgue
Prison photograph of Ned Kelly c.1873, image courtesy National Museum of Australia.
Prison photograph of Ned Kelly c.1873, image courtesy National Museum of Australia.
49 images
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Related information

Prison and death in the 19th century

Two iBooks of authentic records

Learning resources

These books include sixteen inmates including Ned Kelly, Captain Moonlite and Frederick Deeming and twelve sketches of the deceased, including several children. For Year 7 – 9 students.
Percy, Reginald, Monty and George Faithfull, undated by Henry Dorner. Image courtesy the National Museum of Australia.
Percy, Reginald, Monty and George Faithfull, undated by Henry Dorner. Image courtesy the National Museum of Australia.
Percy, Reginald, Monty and George Faithfull, undated by Henry Dorner. Image courtesy the National Museum of Australia.
Percy, Reginald, Monty and George Faithfull, undated by Henry Dorner. Image courtesy the National Museum of Australia.

An affray which deserves particular mention

Ben Hall and his gang outdone, 6 February 1865

About Face article

6 February 2016

Bushranger Ben Hall and his cronies held around 40 people hostage in a pub north-west of Goulburn, telling their captives ‘don’t be alarmed; we only came here for a bit of fun’.
Olga Radalyski prison records, on loan from the Public Record Office of Victoria.
Olga Radalyski prison records, on loan from the Public Record Office of Victoria.
Olga Radalyski prison records, on loan from the Public Record Office of Victoria.
Olga Radalyski prison records, on loan from the Public Record Office of Victoria.

The sensational denouement of the case

The Yarra Boot Trunk Tragedy, 12 January 1899

About Face article

12 January 2016

The 'Yarra Boot Trunk Tragedy' unfolded a week before Christmas 1898, when some neighbourhood boys noticed a wooden box floating in the river at Richmond. 
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