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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.

Donald Horne

2000
Melissa Beowulf

oil on canvas (frame: 125.5 cm x 156.0 cm, support: 121.5 cm x 152.0 cm)

Donald Horne AO (1921-2005), academic and writer, was for nearly forty years the best-known commentator on the Australian condition. Born in Muswellbrook, Horne began his career on Sydney's Daily Telegraph. His book The Lucky Country was published in 1964, in between his stints as editor of the Bulletin (from 1961 to 1962 and from 1967 to1972). Its title, extracted from the sentence 'Australia is a lucky country, run by second-rate people who share its luck', was soon misappropriated; the author has complained that he has 'had to sit through the most appalling rubbish as successive generations misapplied this phrase.' While writing his more than 20 books, he edited the Observer and Quadrant and taught at the University of NSW. Chairman of the Australia Council from 1985 to 1990 and Chancellor of the University of Canberra from 1992 to 1995, he was an executive member of the Australian Constitutional Commission amongst his other arts and citizenship involvements. Named a National Living Treasure in 1997, Horne wrote almost to the end of his life; his last, unfinished book was Aspects of a Terminal Illness.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Julia Horne and Nick Horne
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program 2015
© Melissa Beowulf/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

Melissa Beowulf (age 43 in 2000)

Donald Horne AO (age 79 in 2000)

Subject professions

Education and research

Donated by

Nick Horne (1 portrait)

Julia Horne (1 portrait)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

Phone +61 2 6102 7000
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