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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.

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Christine Manfield

1997
Selina Snow

synthetic polymer paint on canvas (support: 76.0 cm x 56.4 cm)

Christine Manfield (b.1953), once described as the 'high priestess of modern Sydney cooking', established her reputation at the Paragon Café, which opened in 1991, and founded its successor, the Paramount, in 1993. She closed the Paramount in 2000 to focus on writing and consultancies. Later, she ran a venture in London, East @West, which she closed in 2005; her Sydney restaurant Universal was open from 2007 to 2013. Famed for combining and experimenting with diverse cuisines, Manfield believes that 'we are all faced with mediocrity in food, my mission is to elevate it'. Selina Snow pictured her with some of the desserts for which she is particularly renowned. She now leads tours to such destinations as India, Africa, South America and Morocco, writes for food and travel magazines, and markets a range of prepared foods. Her books include Paramount Cooking (1996), Paramount Desserts (1997), Spice (1999), Stir (2002), Tasting India (2011), Dessert Divas (2014) and A Personal Guide to India and Bhutan (2015).

Selina Snow’s series of paintings was amongst the earliest acquisitions of the National Portrait Gallery.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 1999
© Selina Snow

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Selina Snow (age 32 in 1997)

Christine Manfield (age 44 in 1997)

Subject professions

Food and cooking

Donated by

Selina Snow (4 portraits)

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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.

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.

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