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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.

Good, bad and the ugly

Michael Desmond explores what makes a portrait subject significant.

More information on Good, bad and the ugly

Selected images

5 images
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Bee Miles
Bee Miles, 1976 Roderick Shaw. © Estate of Rod Shaw
Caroline Pileggi
Caroline Pileggi, 2005 Toni Wilkinson. © Toni Wilkinson
Alan Bond
Alan Bond, 1985 Rennie Ellis. © Rennie Ellis Photographic Archive
www.RennieEllis.com.au
Mr Mortimer Lewis
Mr Mortimer Lewis, c. 1828 an unknown artist
Ned Kelly death mask
Ned Kelly death mask, date unknown an unknown artist after Maximilian Kreitmayer
5 images
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Related information

Phrenology video: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Phrenology video: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Phrenology video: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Phrenology video: 3 minutes 25 seconds

Ned Kelly and death masks

'Judge a person by their cover'

Portrait story

Alexandra Roginski explains the history behind the pseudo-science of phrenology.

Bee Miles

'Eccentricity'

Portrait story

An exploration of Bee Miles' defining characteristic.
Mr Mortimer Lewis
Mr Mortimer Lewis
Mr Mortimer Lewis
Mr Mortimer Lewis

Little treasures

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2002

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