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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.

Dr Paul Scully-Power

2005
Evert Ploeg

oil on canvas (frame: 184.4 cm x 108.3 cm, support: 183.0 cm x 106.5 cm)

Paul Scully-Power AM (b. 1944), oceanographer and remote sensing expert, flew on the space shuttle Challenger in 1984, making scientific observations of the earth's oceans. Born in Sydney, where he gained his doctorate of science in applied mathematics, he won international renown for his discovery of the phenomenon of spiral eddies. Having begun his career in the Oceanographic Section of the Royal Australian Navy, he went on exchange to the US Navy and became involved in the NASA space program. Later, he worked for the US Navy, NASA, the Pentagon and the White House. Returning to Australia, he became Chairman of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Chancellor of Bond University. He has received innumerable awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal, NASA Space Medal, Laureate of the Albatross, Order of the Decibel, and the Oswald Watt Gold Medal. His biography, Oceans to Orbit, was published in 1995.

The scroll in this painting refers to an oceanic spiral eddy that Scully-Power discovered while in orbit on the Challenger. The Nereus badge, depicting the Old Man of the Sea, was designed by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography for him to wear on the expedition. His cufflinks commemorate his honour as a Freeman of the City of London.

Purchased with funds provided by donors 2006
© Evert Ploeg/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

Evert Ploeg (age 42 in 2005)

Paul Scully Power AM (age 61 in 2005)

Subject professions

Science and technology

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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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.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency