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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.

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Ursula Hoff

1994
Francis Reiss

gelatin silver photograph on paper, edition 16/30 (sheet: 50.5 cm x 40.7 cm, image: 48.6 cm x 39.2 cm)

Ursula Hoff AO OBE (1909–2005) was a curator, art historian and academic. A German Jew, educated in Hamburg, Munich and London, she was invited to Melbourne in 1939 to take up a position as secretary to the Women's College at the University of Melbourne. From 1942 she worked at the National Gallery of Victoria, building up its outstanding collection of international and Australian prints and delivering public lectures on European art history; she was an assistant director from 1968 to 1973. Having lectured part-time in Fine Arts at the University of Melbourne from the late 1940s, she was senior associate in fine arts there from 1985. Her many publications include Art Appreciation (c.1944); Charles Conder: His Australian Years (1960) and The Art of Arthur Boyd (1986). In 1970, Hoff became a foundation fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.

Purchased 2004
© Estate of Francis Reiss

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

Francis Reiss (age 67 in 1994)

Ursula Hoff AO OBE (age 85 in 1994)

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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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