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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.

Chelsea Hospital (Sir Henry Wylie Norman)

1903
Sir Leslie Ward, Vincent Brooks, Day & Son (lithographer) and Vanity Fair Magazine (publisher)

from the series ‘Vanity Fair’
chromolithograph on paper (sheet: 39.5 cm x 26.0 cm)

Sir Henry Wylie Norman (1826–1904), governor and army officer, was born in London, the son of a merchant who conducted his business chiefly in India and the Caribbean. Wylie joined the army in 1844 while in India and was stationed there with his regiment for the next fifteen years, seeing action in various skirmishes during the Indian Mutiny, and proving himself a most able officer and administrator. During the 1860s, he was assistant military secretary to the chief of the British army, military secretary to the governor-general of India, and aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria. In 1883, he became governor of Jamaica, leaving that role in 1888 to take up the position of governor of Queensland. Arriving in Brisbane in 1889, Norman encountered a colony experiencing significant financial difficulty, but was popular despite having to institute austerity in government expenditure. In 1895, having earlier declined the highly prestigious post of governor-general of India, he returned to London and served as agent-general for Queensland. In later years, Norman chaired royal commissions on the West Indian colonies and the Boer War, was promoted to Field Marshall, and was vice-president of the Royal Geographical Society. He was honoured with a memorial tablet in St Paul’s Cathedral on his death in 1904.

Purchased 2015

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

Sir Leslie Ward (age 52 in 1903)

Vincent Brooks, Day & Son

Vanity Fair Magazine

Sir Henry Wylie Norman (age 77 in 1903)

Subject professions

Government and leadership

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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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