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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.

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Lowe Kong Meng

Lowe Kong Meng

Lowe Kong Meng

Lowe Kong Meng, c. 1887

Ludwig Lang after Johnstone O'Shannessy & Co

Portrait, tinted lithograph on paper

Purchased 2015

John Howard and Janette Howard

John Howard and Janette Howard

John Howard and Janette Howard

John Howard and Janette Howard, 2000

Josonia Palaitis

Portrait, oil on canvas

Commissioned with funds provided by the Founding Patron, L Gordon Darling AC CMG 2000

Robin Boyd

Robin Gerard Penleigh Boyd

Robin Gerard Penleigh Boyd (1919-1971), was born and educated in Melbourne, and a member of the famous Australian family of artists and writers.

1 portrait in the collection

Essie Coffey (Bush Queen) and Orlando Gemes

Essie Coffey

Essie Coffey OAM (1940-1998) was a community worker, singer, actor and film-maker.

1 portrait in the collection

William Lyne

Sir William John Lyne

Sir William John Lyne (1844-1913), politician, was a Premier of New South Wales and a minister in the first Australian parliament.

1 portrait in the collection

Self portrait

Eric Westbrook

Eric Westbrook was the Director of the National Gallery of Victoria from 1956 to 1973.

1 portrait in the collection

image not online

Josonia Palaitis

Josonia Palaitis trained as an art teacher in Sydney in the early 1970s, and experimented with diverse painting styles before settling into the photorealist mode for which she became best known.

1 portrait in the collection

General Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane

Thomas Mackdougall Brisbane

Thomas Mackdougall Brisbane (1773-1860) was born into an aristocratic Scottish family and entered the army at the age of 16.

2 portraits in the collection

Ellen Stirling

Very fine and very like

About Face article

When did notions of very fine and very like become separate qualities of a portrait? And what happens to 'very like' in the age of photographic portraiture?

Portrait of Henry Kendall

Portrait of Henry Kendall

Portrait of Henry Kendall

Portrait of Henry Kendall, c. 1890-1894

S. Milbourn Jnr

Portrait, albumen silver photograph on cabinet card

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased 2008

General Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane

General Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane

General Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane

General Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane, 1850 (published)

James Faed, W Wilding after John Watson Gordon

Portrait, mezzotint on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Purchased with funds provided by Ross A Field 2008

Margaret Dodd

Margaret Dodd

Margaret Dodd

Margaret Dodd, 2002

Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on paper

Gift of Patrick Corrigan AM 2004. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Bill Northam

Sir William Northam CBE

Sir William Northam CBE (1905-1988), yachtsman, won the gold medal in the 5.5 m class event at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

1 portrait in the collection

Death mask of George Melville courtesy of National Trust of Australia (Victoria), Old Melbourne Gaol Collection

A colourful story from Sideshow Alley

Infamy, the macabre & the portrait

About Face article

From infamous bushranger to oyster shop display, curator Jo Gilmour explores the life of George Melville.

Clement Meadmore

Clement Meadmore

Clement Meadmore

Clement Meadmore, c. 1978

Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2003
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program

Portrait of Henry Kendall

Henry Kendall

Henry (Thomas Henry) Kendall (1839-1882) was once regarded as the finest poet Australia had produced.

1 portrait in the collection

© National Portrait Gallery 2025
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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