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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.

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Noel Fraser Hickey

1957
Nancy Menetrey

oil on canvas (frame: 103.0 cm x 76.2 cm)

Noel Fraser Hickey (1921–2010) grew up in Sydney and found work as a photographer with Kodak after finishing his schooling at Fort Street Boys High. After serving with the AIF in the Second World War, he started his own studio in Sydney, specialising in headshots and portfolio photography for aspiring fashion models. Artist Nancy Menetrey (1924-2024) worked for Hickey as a negative re-toucher, and painted this portrait of her sharply-dressed boss as her entry for the 1957 Archibald Prize. Hickey is depicted holding a photograph of Patricia Woodley, a former Miss New South Wales and Miss Australia who founded her own modelling agency and deportment school in Sydney in the early 1950s. Menetrey's painting of Hickey was one of the 69 works selected for the 1957 Archibald Prize exhibition. She painted Woodley for the Archibald in 1958, but the portrait wasn’t among the finalists. Among her other portrait subjects were Rita Young, who modelled for artists such as Norman Lindsay and Max Dupain before the war; and Admiral Sir Victor Smith, a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy. Menetrey's portraits featured in the Portia Geach Memorial Award several times in the 1970s.

Gift of the artist 2021
© Nancy Menetrey

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

Nancy Menetrey (age 33 in 1957)

Noel Fraser Hickey (age 36 in 1957)

Donated by

Nancy Menetrey (1 portrait)

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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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