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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.

Portrait of Susan Crennan

2017
Lewis Miller

oil on linen (frame: 125.5 cm x 125.5 cm, support: 122.0 cm x 122.0 cm)

The Hon. Susan Crennan AC KC (b. 1945) is a leading barrister and former High Court judge. Born in Melbourne, Crennan worked as an English teacher before studying law at the University of Sydney. A barrister for 24 years, she was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 1979, to the Victorian Bar in 1980 and as a barrister at King’s Inns Dublin in 1991. She was appointed King’s Counsel (at the time named Queen's Counsel) in Victoria in 1989 and in New South Wales in 1990. Crennan was the first woman to serve as Chairman of the Victorian Bar Council, in 1993–1994, and the President of the Australian Bar Association, in 1994–1995. She served as a Commissioner for Human Rights for six years from 1992 and was appointed a judge of the Federal Court of Australia in February 2004. In November the following year, she was appointed to the High Court of Australia, serving alongside justices Heydon and Gummow, both of whom taught her at law school. Crennan is widely acknowledged as a leader and mentor within the legal profession and her contributions to constitutional law, arbitration and law reform are remarkable.

Lewis Miller is a highly regarded portrait painter who won the 1998 Archibald Prize. His portrait of Crennan captures his sitter's wisdom and strength through his trademark bold brushstrokes and impressionistic qualities.

Gift of the Hon. Susan Crennan AC KC 2018. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Lewis Miller/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

Lewis Miller (age 58 in 2017)

The Hon. Susan Crennan AC KC (age 72 in 2017)

Subject professions

Law and justice

Donated by

The Hon. Susan Crennan AC KC (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