Peter Elliott AM (1927–2014) was an obstetrician, gynaecologist and oncologist as well as a significant art collector and patron. The son of a doctor, Elliott grew up in Bellingen, New South Wales, and was educated at Scot's College in Sydney. After war service with the Royal Australian Navy, he studied medicine at the University of Sydney, and decided to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology in 1950 after witnessing Betty Sara become the first Australian woman to be successfully delivered of quadruplets (Elliot's father delivered them). Having undertaken further study in London, in due course he became head of gynaecological oncology at Sydney’s King George V Hospital, and president of both the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Asian and Oceanic Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. For many years, Elliott worked as a volunteer in Asia and Oceania; and during his career he published over 150 research papers and delivered more than 250 lectures by invitation. In his spare time, he pursued his passion for art collecting, enjoying close relationships with gallery owners and artists, including Fred Williams, William Robinson, Frank Hodgkinson and Russell Drysdale.
Elliott commissioned this portrait from artist Jon Molvig in 1964. It was gifted to the National Portrait Gallery by the sitter's son in 2016, along with five of Molvig's preparatory drawings for the work.
Gift of Richard Elliott 2016. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Otte Bartzis
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