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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.

Prison and death in the 19th century

Two iBooks of authentic records

These books include sixteen inmates including Ned Kelly, Captain Moonlite and Frederick Deeming and twelve sketches of the deceased, including several children. For Year 7 – 9 students.

These two books were produced in association with the exhibition Sideshow Alley: Infamy, the macabre & the portrait.

Notorious Prisoners from Victoria and New South Wales, 1975–92

'Making iron work without authority', 'Having newspapers' and 'Receiving tea improperly' – such were the misdemeanours of Andrew George Scott aka Captain Moonlite while serving time in gaol between 1874 and 1878. See his record alongside those of Ned Kelly and other perpetrators of more heinous crimes, such as Frederick Deeming. 

Each record includes a photograph and hand-written account of the appearance and acivity of the inmates – including their charge and sentence – and in some cases, fascinating details of their lives. There's a short introduction to each story, and a glossary of some less common terms such as 'absconding' and 'insolence'.

Note that the material in this book may disturb some readers.

View Notorious Prisoners in the iBooks Store.

Postmortem Studies by Alfred Bock, circa 1865

Sixteen drawings by Alfred Bock (1835–1920) of people – including small children – shortly after they passed away.

View Postmortem Studies in the iBooks Store.

2 portraits

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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.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency