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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.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Portrait of Ruth Cracknell as the Sibyl

1995
Rosemary Valadon

oil on canvas (frame: 186.0 cm x 124.7 cm)

Rosemary Valadon’s large-scale oil paintings are characterised by theatricality and opulence, feminist agency and vitality. Between 1990 and 1996 she completed The Goddess Series, portraits of Australian women as mythological/archetypal figures, referring to them as ‘a testimony to the goodness and healing powers of women’. Her sitters included actor Ruth Cracknell AM (1925–2002), who considered this painting to be her definitive portrait. Cracknell became a household name through her character Maggie Beare in the ABC comedy Mother and Son, which ran from 1985 to 1994. Over five decades she appeared in many theatre, television, radio and film productions, including A Cup of Tea, a Bex and a Good Lie Down at the Phillip Street Theatre and a memorable performance as Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest for the Melbourne and Sydney theatre companies. After writing her autobiography A Biased Memoir (1997), she published an account of her experience of grief following the death of her husband of 41 years, Eric Phillips, Journey from Venice (2000). In 2001 she received the Gold Logie Hall of Fame Award and a lifetime achievement award at the Helpmann Awards. Cracknell was also an influential spokesperson for older Australian women and an advocate for First Nations rights.

Purchased 2000
© Rosemary Valadon

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

Rosemary Valadon (age 48 in 1995)

Ruth Cracknell (age 70 in 1995)

Subject professions

Performing arts

Related portraits

1. Rosemary Valadon, 1995. All Greg Weight.
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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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