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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.

To Bare all, 2012 by Nicholas Duell

To Bare all, 2012

by Nicholas Duell
Image
The little beachcomber, 2015 by Nicholas Samartis

The little beachcomber, 2015

by Nicholas Samartis
Image
Tristan Has A Bad Heart, 2018 by Nicholas Garcia

Tristan Has A Bad Heart, 2018

by Nicholas Garcia
Image
Queen Elizabeth I, c. 1575  associated with Nicholas Hilliard

Queen Elizabeth I

associated with Nicholas Hilliard
Image
Self portrait (Hilda in the Chinoise hat)
Self portrait (Hilda in the Chinoise hat)
Self portrait (Hilda in the Chinoise hat)

Self portrait (Hilda in the Chinoise hat), c. 1913

Hilda Rix Nicholas
Portrait, pastel and coloured pencil on paper

Gift of Bronwyn Wright 2013. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Shadow crown, 2021 Nicholas Hopwood

Shadow crown

Nicholas Hopwood
Image
Nicholas Whitlam, Head of the NSW Rural Bank
Nicholas Whitlam, Head of the NSW Rural Bank
Nicholas Whitlam, Head of the NSW Rural Bank

Nicholas Whitlam, Head of the NSW Rural Bank,

Joe Greenberg
Portrait, watercolour, crayon, coloured pencil, fibre-tipped pen and gouache on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2001

Nicholas Paspaley Jnr
Nicholas Paspaley Jnr
Nicholas Paspaley Jnr

Nicholas Paspaley Jnr, 2018

Andrew Bonneau
Portrait, oil on canvas

Commissioned with funds provided by Ross Adler AC 2018

George Nicholas
George Nicholas
George Nicholas

George Nicholas, 1955

Paul Fitzgerald AM
Portrait, oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Hilton Nicholas AM OBE 2010

Hugo at home (Hugo Weaving)

Nicholas Harding

28 Portraits
Previous exhibition, 2017

Nicholas Harding: 28 portraits features paintings of Robert Drewe, John Bell and Hugo Weaving alongside gorgeously coloured recent oil portraits, delicate gouaches and bold ink and charcoal drawings.

image not online

Nicholas Hope,

Jimmy Pozarik OAM
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2007

Nicholas Harding, 2016 Mark Mohell

Nicholas Harding

Explore The Popular Pet Show

Over the years the young Nicholas Harding got his hands on various mice and guinea pigs, but they served mainly to illustrate the concept of mortality. 

Nicholas Chevalier
Nicholas Chevalier
Nicholas Chevalier

Nicholas Chevalier, c. 1867

Johnstone O'Shannessy & Co
Portrait, albumen photograph on carte de visite

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by Graham Smith 2009

David Marr, 2011 by Nicholas Harding

Nicholas Harding: 28 Portraits

Exhibition essay
General content

Sarah Engledow looks at three decades of Nicholas Harding's portraiture.

Alice Want
Alice Want
Alice Want

Alice Want, 1853

William Nicholas
Portrait, pencil and watercolour on paper

Gift of the Simpson family in memory of Caroline Simpson OAM 2008. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Study for portrait of Nicholas Paspaley Jnr
Study for portrait of Nicholas Paspaley Jnr
Study for portrait of Nicholas Paspaley Jnr

Study for portrait of Nicholas Paspaley Jnr, 2018

Andrew Bonneau
Portrait, pencil and white pastel on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Commissioned with funds provided by Ross Adler AC 2018

Richard Roxburgh
Richard Roxburgh
Richard Roxburgh

Richard Roxburgh, 2014

Nicholas Harding
Portrait, oil on linen

Gift of the artist 2017. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

John Olsen AO, CBE
John Olsen AO, CBE
John Olsen AO, CBE

John Olsen AO, CBE, 2017

Nicholas Harding
Portrait, oil on linen

Gift of the artist 2019. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

A Sydney family, 1840s

The house, the horse, the wife and the offspring

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2009

Joanna Gilmour writes about the portraiture of the colonial artist William Nicholas.

Hugo at home (Hugo Weaving)
Hugo at home (Hugo Weaving)
Hugo at home (Hugo Weaving)

Hugo at home (Hugo Weaving), 2011

Nicholas Harding
Portrait, oil on canvas

Purchased with funds provided by the Liangis family 2012

Study for John Bell as King Lear
Study for John Bell as King Lear
Study for John Bell as King Lear

Study for John Bell as King Lear, 1998-2001

Nicholas Harding
Portrait, ink, charcoal and conté on paper

Gift of the artist 2010. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Rocking the boat, 2006 by Mark Tedeschi

Rocking the boat, 2006

by Mark Tedeschi
Image
Robert Drewe (in the swell)

Undercurrent

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2010

Dr Sarah Engledow writes about the portraiture of Australian artist Nicholas Harding.

Robert Drewe (in the swell)
Robert Drewe (in the swell)
Robert Drewe (in the swell)

Robert Drewe (in the swell), 2006

Nicholas Harding
Portrait, oil on canvas

Purchased 2010

David Marr, 2011 by Nicholas Harding

Through thick and thin

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2017

Sarah Engledow likes the manifold mediums of Nicholas Harding’s portraiture.

Rehearsing Godot (Mullins as Lucky) 4.11.2013 by Nicholas Harding

Waiting for Godot

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2015

'Artist and actors, advancing spasmodically, find their rhythm together' writes Sarah Engledow.

Robert Drewe

An interview with Nicholas Harding
Portrait story

Artist Nicholas Harding talks about what was captured in his portrait of Robert Drewe.

Nicholas Harding

'A portrait of Hugo Weaving'
Portrait story

Artist Nicholas Harding talks about how he became interested in portraiture, and his motivation in painting Hugo Weaving.

John Bell as King Lear oil on Belgian linen, 2001 by Nicholas Harding

Lear unbuttoned

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2011

Sarah Engledow steps up to the footlights and applauds the storyline behind Nicholas Harding's portraits of actor John Bell.

Nicolas Baudin, Capitaine de Vaisseau. Commandant I'Expedition pour le tour du Monde et Specialement relatif aux Sciences et auz Arts, entreprise en I'An gme, 1800
Nicolas Baudin, Capitaine de Vaisseau. Commandant I'Expedition pour le tour du Monde et Specialement relatif aux Sciences et auz Arts, entreprise en I'An gme, 1800
Nicolas Baudin, Capitaine de Vaisseau. Commandant I'Expedition pour le tour du Monde et Specialement relatif aux Sciences et auz Arts, entreprise en I'An gme, 1800

Nicolas Baudin, Capitaine de Vaisseau. Commandant I'Expedition pour le tour du Monde et Specialement relatif aux Sciences et auz Arts, entreprise en I'An gme, 1800, 1800

François Bonneville after Joseph Jauffret
Portrait, mezzotint on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2015

Vue de George’s Street à Sydney
Vue de George’s Street à Sydney
Vue de George’s Street à Sydney

Vue de George’s Street à Sydney, 1833

Alexis Nicholas Nöel after Louis Auguste de Sainson
Portrait, lithograph on Chine-collé on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2018

Self portrait

Give me five

Magazine article by Karen Quinlan AM, 2021

National Portrait Gallery director Karen Quinlan AM nominates her quintet of favourites from the collection, with early twentieth-century ‘selfies’ filling the roster.

Theresa and James Laidley Mort
Theresa and James Laidley Mort
Theresa and James Laidley Mort

Theresa and James Laidley Mort, 1844

William Nicholas
Portrait, watercolour and gouache on paper

Gift of the Mort family 2009

Nicholas Hannen and Athene Seyler, London
Nicholas Hannen and Athene Seyler, London
Nicholas Hannen and Athene Seyler, London

Nicholas Hannen and Athene Seyler, London, c. 1952 (printed 2000)

David Moore
Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2001. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
The series 'David Moore: From Face to Face' was acquired as a gift of the artist and with financial assistance from Timothy Fairfax AC and L Gordon Darling AC CMG 2001.

Autumn evenings golden glow, c.1942 by Hilda Rix Nicholas

Paris to Monaro

Pleasures from the studio of Hilda Rix Nicholas
Previous exhibition, 2013

After successfully exploring the art scenes of London, France and Morocco, Hilda Rix Nicholas settled at Knockalong, a property near Delegate, on the Monaro plain in the 1920s.

Drawing workshop: Focus on the face with Nicholas Harding

27th February 2021
Recorded virtual programs

Join us from wherever you are for an intimate, online drawing workshop with British-Australian artist Nicholas Harding.

Nicholas Paspaley Jnr

Nicholas Paspaley Jnr, 2018

by Andrew Bonneau
General content

Commissioned with funds provided by Ross Adler AC 2018

Nat Young, c. 1968 by Albert Falzon

Arcadia

Sound of the sea
Previous exhibition, 2014

An exhibition of photographs by John Witzig, drawings by Nicholas Harding and film footage by Albe Falzon, expressive of the free-spirited, hot-blooded energy of Australian surfers under the cloud of conscription to Vietnam.

Nicholas Hopwood

Nicholas Hopwood

Vox pops

It came at a time when, you know, we're all questioning our mortality, things are happening in the world.

Mrs George Matson Nicholas, c. 1917 by Hilda Rix Nicholas

Paris to Monaro

Learning resource archive

Structured around the biography of artist Hilda Rix Nicholas, this is a companion to our 2013 exhibition Paris to Monaro. For secondary students.

Vali Myers

'A friend in a lift'
Portrait story

Interview with Vali Myers' friend, Dimmi, the lift-attendant at the Nicholas Building in Melbourne.

Billie, 2016 by Graeme Drendel

The Popular Pet Show

Previous exhibition, 2016

This exhibition expresses the joy and warmth that many of us derive from our animal companions, and celebrates their trusting, unpretentious ways, with portraits of Australians and their furry, feathered and fluffy friends.

Portrait 44

Summer 2012/2013
Magazine

This issue features The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee portrait, Nicholas Harding, Ingvar Kenne, Laura Moore, Michael Rosen and more.

Portrait 50

Spring 2015
Magazine

This issue features Julia Gillard on the late Joan Kirner, Julian Opie’s digital portraiture, Nicholas Harding’s Godot gouaches and more.

Portrait 37

September - November 2010
Magazine

This issue features Jenny Sages, Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud, Brook Andrew's portrait of Marcia Langton, Nicholas Harding, Lola Montez, Mick Molloy and more.

Dimitri, 2008 by Andrew Babarczy

Dimitri, 2008

by Andrew Babarczy
Image
2020, 2021 Jaq Grantford

Darling Portrait Prize 2022

Previous exhibition, 2022

The Darling Portrait Prize is a biennial national prize for Australian portrait painting honouring the legacy of Mr L Gordon Darling AC CMG (1921-2015). The winner receives a cash prize of $75,000.

Rex at Maroubra, 2011

Observation point

Magazine article by Nicholas Harding, 2013

Nicholas Harding describes his enduring fascination with drawing and painting people.

Arcadia learning resource

Learning resource archive

A great addition to themes such as Australian History, Sport, Australian Studies, Cultural Studies, English and Visual Arts. For Year 9 – 12 students.

Nat Young, c. 1968 by Albert Falzon

Arcadia media information

31 July 2014
Archived media releases 2014

Press releases and image downloads for media.

Portrait 58

Summer 2017-18
Magazine

Paul Cézanne, Bill Henson and Simone Young, Australian cinema’s iconic women, and feminist portraits by Kate Just.

Billie, 2016 by Graeme Drendel

Pets of all types take over the National Portrait Gallery

3 November 2016
Archived media releases 2016

It is not every day that a national gallery turns its walls over to the animal companions that bring unconditional love and joy to their owners but this summer we have opened the doors to 15 contemporary artists with very different ways of depicting our furry, feathered and scaled pets.

Nourou-gal-derri
Nourou-gal-derri
Nourou-gal-derri

Nourou-gal-derri, 1807-1817

Nicolas-Martin Petit after Barthélemy Roger
Portrait, engraving on paper

Purchased 2009

David Gulpilil's Hands
David Gulpilil's Hands
David Gulpilil's Hands

David Gulpilil's Hands, 2004

Ross Honeysett
Portrait, photographic print from film on paper

Gift of the artist 2021

William Lanne
William Lanne
William Lanne

William Lanne, c. 1866

J.W. Beattie after Charles Woolley
Portrait, albumen silver photograph

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by
Allanah Dopson & Nicholas Heyward 2009

Self portrait, 1930 Margaret Preston. © Art Gallery of New South Wales, gift of the artist at the request of the Trustees 1930

The attractions of bohemia

It's Complicated

In the company of women

Charles Dickens, 1839 Daniel Maclise

Charles Dickens

Daniel Maclise
Image
David Gulpilil
David Gulpilil
David Gulpilil

David Gulpilil, c. 1981

Juno Gemes
Portrait, inkjet print on paper

Gift of the artist 2005. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Professor Paul Korner
Professor Paul Korner
Professor Paul Korner

Professor Paul Korner, 2011

Andrew Sullivan
Portrait, oil on canvas

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Ann Korner, Nicholas Korner, Anthony Korner and Harriet Bingham 2015

Gulpilil (David) Dreaming - Kakadu 2006
Gulpilil (David) Dreaming - Kakadu 2006
Gulpilil (David) Dreaming - Kakadu 2006

Gulpilil (David) Dreaming - Kakadu 2006, 2006

George Fetting
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Gift of the artist 2008

David Malouf

2012-13 Acquisition Fund

Annual Appeal

The Circle of Friends Acquisition Fund for 2012 was dedicated to purchasing a portrait of David Malouf by Rick Amor.

David Gulpilil, Arnhem Land
David Gulpilil, Arnhem Land
David Gulpilil, Arnhem Land

David Gulpilil, Arnhem Land, 1981 (printed 2000)

David Moore
Portrait, type C photograph on paper

The series 'David Moore: From Face to Face' was acquired as a gift of the artist and with financial assistance from Timothy Fairfax AC and L Gordon Darling AC CMG 2001

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Icons Syndicate

Lists alphabetically
Honour board
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Donors

$10,000 - $49,999
Honour board
Head study for portrait of Margaret Olley
Head study for portrait of Margaret Olley
Head study for portrait of Margaret Olley

Head study for portrait of Margaret Olley, 1994

Jeffrey Smart AO
Portrait, pencil on paper

Bequest of Nick Enright AM 2004

Portrait of Professor Derek Freeman

Paper weight

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2022

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

Trukanini
Trukanini
Trukanini

Trukanini, n.d.

J.W. Beattie after Charles Woolley
Portrait, albumen silver photograph

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by Allanah Dopson and Nicholas Heyward 2009

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Dr Sarah Engledow

Biography

Dr Sarah Engledow was appointed Historian at the National Portrait Gallery in 1999.

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Triumphant weekend for Gallery at MAPDAs

25 May 2015
Archived media releases 2015

The National Portrait Gallery has had its most successful Multimedia and Publication Design Awards (MAPDAs) ever, winning four awards across multiple categories. The awards were presented at a ceremony at the Australian Maritime Museum last Friday night.

Jessica Mauboy

National Portrait Gallery unveils twenty new portrait commissions to celebrate twenty years

18 October 2018
Archived media releases 2018

The National Portrait Gallery has unveiled twenty new portrait commissions of Australian leaders and individualists as part of its twentieth birthday celebrations in a new exhibition, 20/20: Celebrating twenty years with twenty new portrait commissions.

Finalists announced for National Photographic Portrait Prize

14 November 2018
Archived media releases 2018

The National Portrait Gallery would like to congratulate the forty finalists for the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2019.

Reg Richardson AM

2015-17 Acquisition Fund

Annual Appeal

From 2015 to 2017 the Acquisition Fund was focussed on Reg Richardson AM by Mitch Cairns, a finalist in the Archibald Prize 2014, and a great example of minimalist portraiture.

Lady Barkly
Lady Barkly
Lady Barkly

Lady Barkly, 1863

Batchelder & O'Neill
Portrait, albumen silver carte de visite on card

Purchased 2014

Ned Kelly death mask

Sideshow Alley

Infamy, the macabre & the portrait
Previous exhibition, 2015

Death masks, post-mortem drawings and other spooky and disquieting portraits... Come and see how portraits of infamous Australians were used in the 19th century.

Cormac and Callum, 2008 by Ingvar Kenne

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2009

Previous exhibition, 2009

In its second year at the National Portrait Gallery, and for the first time touring to other venues, the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2009 continues to present surprising perspectives on the nature of contemporary portrait photography.

Thomas Sutcliffe Mort and his wife Theresa

Husbands and Wives

Photographic Portraits from 19th Century Australia
Previous exhibition, 2010

'I have just been to my dressing case to take a peep at you.

Video still from Dream Job, 2011 by David M Thomas

My dream job

Magazine article by David Thomas AM, 2012

Artist David M Thomas lists some of the ideas and influences behind his video portraits.

Don Hany

In character on location

Magazine article by Alistair McGhie, 2011

A photograph of Claudia Karvan that blends actor, character, photographer and captures the creative collaboration of the television series Love my way

My father-in-law watering his garden, 1986 by Davida Allen

Lovingly observed

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2009

Sarah Engledow previews the beguiling summer exhibition, Idle hours.

Miss Evelyn Chapman, 1918

Lovers of light

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2008

Dr Sarah Engledow traces the significant links between Antonio Dattilo-Rubbo and Evelyn Chapman through their portraits.

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Portrait Donors

Listed by year
Honour board
Shakespeare to Winehouse: Icons from the National Portrait Gallery, London

Announcing Shakespeare to Winehouse

24 November 2021
Archived media releases 2021

More than eighty treasures from the National Portrait Gallery London will travel to Canberra for a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from March 2022.

William Charles Wentworth -The Australian Patriot

The Wentworths – Hidden in Plain Sight

Magazine article by Dr Grace Blakeley-Carroll, 2015

Grace Carroll on the gendered world of the Wentworths.

Barry Humphries

Talking heads

About Face article

In their own words lead researcher Louise Maher on the novel project that lets the Gallery’s portraits speak for themselves.

Dr Alison Inglis, AM, 2023 Dena Kahan

School portraits

About Face article

Inga Walton sheds light on a portraiture collection usually only seen by students and teachers at Melbourne University.

In the Lounge, 2006 by North Sullivan

Seduce, Amuse, Entertain

NPPP 2007 exhibition essay
General content

Michael Desmond, National Photographic Portrait Prize judge and curator, introduces the 2007 Prize.

The hunting lodge, 2007

Seduce Amuse Entertain

Magazine article by Michael Desmond, 2007

Michael Desmond profiles a handful of the entrants in first National Photographic Portrait Prize and notes emerging themes and categories.

Sir Sidney Kidman

The fat of the land

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2009

Sir Sidney Kidman (1857-1935) is inscribed in Australian legend as the ‘Cattle King’. 

20/20 launch speech

About Face article

Dr Helen Nugent AO, Chairman, National Portrait Gallery at the opening of 20/20: Celebrating twenty years with twenty new portrait commissions.

Arcadia: Sound of the sea

Exhibition introduction
General content

One night in the spring of 1970 in an old house in Whale Beach, north of Sydney, John Witzig, Albe Falzon and David Elfick put together the first issue of Tracks, playing Neil Young’s album Harvest over and over again as they pasted up galleys of type.

Lady Barkly

A real Pratt

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2015

The death of a gentlewoman is shrouded in mystery, a well-liked governor finds love after sorrow, and two upright men become entangled in the historical record.

Christian Waller with Baldur, Undine and Siren at Fairy Hills, 1932 by Napier Waller

Enigma

Magazine article by Dr Grace Blakeley-Carroll, 2015

Grace Carroll contemplates the curious case of Christian Waller.

Barry Humphries

No Laughing Matter

Magazine article by Simon Elliott, 2002

The biographical exhibition of Barry Humphries was the first display of its kind at the National Portrait Gallery.

Chevalier d’Eon, 1792

All dressed up

Magazine article by Jane Raffan, 2013

Jane Raffan asks do clothes make the portrait, and can the same work with a new title fetch a better price?

Charles Summers

The importance of being bearded

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2012

Joanna Gilmour discovers that the beards of the ill-fated explorers Burke and Wills were as epic as their expedition to traverse Australia from south to north.

A woman of New South Wales, c. 1840

More cash than dash

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2011

Joanna Gilmour describes how colonial portraitists found the perfect market among social status seeking Sydneysiders.

Portrait of Thea Proctor, 1905 by George Lambert

The real Thea

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2015

Long after the portraitist became indifferent to her, and died, a beguiling portrait hung over its subject.

The Art Lovers - Megan, 2013 by Gary Grealy

Everybody, look serious

NPPP 2014 exhibition essay
General content

Dr Sarah Engledow, National Photographic Portrait Prize judge and curator, introduces the 2014 Prize.

Christmas Island

About Face article

This is my last Trumbology before, in a little more than a week from now, I pass to my successor Karen Quinlan the precious baton of the Directorship of the National Portrait Gallery.

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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.

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