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Apollo's breath

Christopher Chapman delights in the intimacy of Robert Mapplethorpe's photography

A Pioneering Life

During her time in Australian politics, Dame Nancy Buttfield was an impressive advocate for equality for women and was responsible for ending the marriage bar for women in the Public Service.

Portrait of a patron

A new painting by Jiawei Shen captures the vision and resolve of the Gallery's founder, L. Gordon Darling AC CMG.

Paper, boy

Peter Wilmoth’s boy-journalist toolkit for antagonising an Australian political giant.

The more things change

National Photographic Portrait Prize curator, Sarah Engledow, finds reward in a difficult task and ultimately uncovers the essence of portraiture.

The bright-eyed Mariner

The considered life

Andrew Sayers asks whether a portrait can truly be the examination of a life.

Paper weight

Joanna Gilmour delves into a collection display that celebrates the immediacy and potency of drawing as an art form in its own right.

Little treasures

The acquisition of the ivory miniatures of Mortimer and Mrs Lewis.

Australian Princess

The full-length portrait of HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark by artist Jiawei Shen, has become a destination piece for visitors.

Poison pen

Michael Desmond examines the career of the eighteenth-century suspected poisoner and portrait artist Thomas Griffiths Wainewright.

Natural born stiller

Penelope Grist speaks to Robert McFarlane about shooting for the stars.

The Story So Far...

A reflection on the National Portrait Gallery's first four years.

In the galleries

Christopher Chapman highlights the inaugural hang of the new National Portrait Gallery building which opened in December 2008.

How to be a boy

Christopher Chapman profiles Chris Lilley, actor and creator of Angry Boys.

The Obama effect

Kim Sajet reflects on two portraits with a power that extends beyond gallery walls.