Skip to main content
Menu
What's on Prizes The Portraits Watch
The Gallery Governance & Board Circle of Friends
Learn Access Search the website
close close
What's on The Portraits The Gallery Learn Watch More O

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.

'The portraits of Captain Cook'

An interview with Betty Churcher

Betty Churcher describes the creation of the portrait of Captain James Cook in the National Portrait Gallery.

More information on 'The portraits of Captain Cook'

Selected images

4 images
hide captions
Betty Churcher
Betty Churcher on Captain Cook. Video length: 3 minutes
Portrait of Captain James Cook RN
Portrait of Captain James Cook RN, 1782 John Webber
Betty Churcher
Betty Churcher, 2008 Adam Knott. © Adam Knott
hey, Betty (Portrait of Betty Churcher)
hey, Betty (Portrait of Betty Churcher), 1990 Davida Allen. © Davida Allen
4 images
hide captions

Related information

A child drawing at a yellow table
A child drawing at a yellow table
A child drawing at a yellow table
A child drawing at a yellow table

Art Cart

Sports Stars

10:00am, – Sun 21 Jun

Inspired by our new video portrait of the CommBank Matildas by artist Angela Tiatia, create your own football trading card just like your favourite sports star.
Little Faces
Little Faces
Little Faces
Little Faces

Little Faces

10:30am, Wed 29 Apr – Fri 15 May

This autumn we are having fun with feathered and furry friends. Join us as we look at Julian Meagher’s portrait of Richard Flanagan and his galah, Herb. Explore friendship together through sensory play, singing and making.
Betty Churcher
Betty Churcher
Betty Churcher
Betty Churcher

Tribute

Betty Churcher

Magazine article, 2015

Betty Churcher AO (1931–2015), gallery director, author, painter and lecturer, was educated in Brisbane before studying art in London.
Home Contact Media Privacy statement User agreement Social media and community guidelines
© National Portrait Gallery 2026
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

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.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency