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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.

Professor Peter Doherty

2001
Rick Amor

oil on canvas (frame: 92.4 cm x 77.8 cm, support: 79.8 cm x 65.5 cm)

Peter Doherty AC (b. 1940), immunologist, shared the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1996 for his discoveries about how the immune system recognises virus-infected cells. At the ANU's John Curtin School of Medical Research from 1973 to 1975, Doherty and his Nobel co-recipient Rolf Zinkernagel investigated components of the immune system known as 'killer T-cells', paving the way for a better understanding of organ rejection after transplants and genetic susceptibility to disease. Since 1988 he has divided his time between the Immunology department at St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Tennessee, and the Microbiology and Immunology department of the University of Melbourne. His reflective memoir, The Beginner's Guide to Winning the Nobel Prize, was published in 2005 and his Light History of Hot Air in 2007. The Peter Doherty Institute, an infectious-diseases research centre in Melbourne, opened in 2014.

Rick Amor evokes Doherty's intensity and curiosity by placing his figure very close to the picture plane. The direct and serious style of his work is well matched to Doherty's unpretentious, straightforward and intelligent manner. The forthright portrait of the scientist was made over five sittings in Amor's Melbourne studio, at which the artist encouraged Doherty to move around, drink coffee, and generally 'be himself'.

Commissioned with funds provided by Marilyn Darling AC 2002
© Rick Amor/Copyright Agency, 2024

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

Rick Amor (age 53 in 2001)

Professor Peter Doherty AC (age 61 in 2001)

Supported by

Marilyn Darling AC (33 portraits supported)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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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