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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.

Portrait 42

February - May 2012

This issue features Del Kathryn Barton, Renaissance Portraiture in New York, Australian impressionists, Nikki Toole’s Skater project, National Photographic Portrait Prize, Andrew Maccoll & Mick Fanning and more.

A is for ... (beauty before Beauty), 2006
A is for ... (beauty before Beauty), 2006
A is for ... (beauty before Beauty), 2006

Observation point

by Del Kathryn Barton

Del Kathryn Barton discusses ideas of portraiture through two of her own artworks.
Mick Fanning at Snapper Rocks
Mick Fanning at Snapper Rocks
Mick Fanning at Snapper Rocks

Beach scene

by Andrew Maccoll

Photographer Andrew Maccoll tells the story behind his portrait of dual world champion pro surfer Mick Fanning.
The sisters, 1904
The sisters, 1904
The sisters, 1904

Beguiling impressions

by Dr Sarah Engledow

Sarah Engledow is seduced by the portraits and the connections between the artists and their subjects in the exhibition Impressions: Painting light and life.
Video still from Dream Job, 2011 by David M Thomas
Video still from Dream Job, 2011 by David M Thomas
Video still from Dream Job, 2011 by David M Thomas

My dream job

by David Thomas AM

Artist David M Thomas lists some of the ideas and influences behind his video portraits.
Charles Summers
Charles Summers
Charles Summers

The importance of being bearded

by Joanna Gilmour

Joanna Gilmour discovers that the beards of the ill-fated explorers Burke and Wills were as epic as their expedition to traverse Australia from south to north.
Travis Giles, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia, 2010 by Nikki Toole
Travis Giles, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia, 2010 by Nikki Toole
Travis Giles, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia, 2010 by Nikki Toole

Mind and body

by Dr Christopher Chapman

Christopher Chapman interviews photographer Nikki Toole about her bold and controlled portraits of skateboarders in the exhibition Skater.
Robyn Archer, 2010
Robyn Archer, 2010
Robyn Archer, 2010

Real close

by Dr Sarah Engledow

Peter Ciemitis breached regulations when creating the portrait of the polymath environmental scientist George Seddon.
Portrait of a Young Man, 1478
Portrait of a Young Man, 1478
Portrait of a Young Man, 1478

Emblems of beauty

by Keith Christiansen

Keith Christiansen introduces the exhibition The Renaissance Portrait from Donatello to Bellini on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Emmanuel at bedtime, 2011 by George Mifsud
Emmanuel at bedtime, 2011 by George Mifsud
Emmanuel at bedtime, 2011 by George Mifsud

To startle the eye

by Joanna Gilmour

National Photographic Portrait Prize judge Joanna Gilmour previews the 2012 exhibition.
Australia (The Hon. Alfred Deakin)
Australia (The Hon. Alfred Deakin)
Australia (The Hon. Alfred Deakin)

Vanity fair

by Ashleigh Wadman

Ashleigh Wadman rediscovers the Australian characters represented with a kindly touch by the British portrait artist Leslie Ward for the society magazine Vanity Fair.

Related information

Portrait 71
Portrait 71
Portrait 71
Portrait 71

Portrait magazine

Publications

Portrait is the preeminent journal of Australian and international portraiture.

Portrait 43

June - August 2012

This issue features Cindy Sherman, Tim Storrier, Brett Whiteley and Patrick White, contemporary Chinese portraiture, Charles Blackman and more.

Portrait 41

October - November 2011

This issue features Kate Beynon, Philosopher Cynthia Freeland, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, John Tsiavis & Chris Lilley, UK's BP Portrait Award, Purchasing power in colonial Sydney and more.
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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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