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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.

Impressions

Painting light and life

Impressions: Painting light and life presents portraits by, and of, artists at the heart of Australian impressionism including Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton and Frederick McCubbin.

More information on Impressions

Selected images

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Tea time, c.1898–1902 by Rupert Bunny (1864–1947)
Tea time, c.1898–1902 by Rupert Bunny (1864–1947)
The red rose, 1886 by George Walton (1855–1890)
The red rose, 1886
 by George Walton (1855–1890)
Priscilla, 1886 by George Walton (1855–1890)
Priscilla, 1886 by George Walton (1855–1890)
Blue and gold: portrait of Dorothy Sutherland, 1908 by Jane Sutherland (1853–1928)
Blue and gold: portrait of Dorothy Sutherland, 1908 by Jane Sutherland (1853–1928)
Portrait of a Man (Portrait of William H Read (Arthur Streeton’s brother-in-law)), 1890 by Arthur Streeton (1867–1943)
Portrait of a Man (Portrait of William H Read
(Arthur Streeton’s brother-in-law)), 1890 by Arthur Streeton (1867–1943)
Professor Marshall-Hall, 1892 by Arthur Streeton (1867–1943)
Professor Marshall-Hall, 1892 by Arthur Streeton (1867–1943)
Mrs WH Read, 1890 by Arthur Streeton (1867–1943)
Mrs WH Read, 1890 by Arthur Streeton (1867–1943)
Frederick McCubbin, at the age of twenty-one, c.1876 by John Sommers Snr (life dates unknown)
Frederick McCubbin, at the age of twenty-one, c.1876 by John Sommers Snr (life dates unknown)
Mon ami ‘Polite’, 1900 by John Peter Russell (1858–1930)
Mon ami ‘Polite’, 1900 by John Peter Russell (1858–1930)
Dr Will Maloney, 1887 by John Peter Russell (1858–1930)
Dr Will Maloney, 1887 by John Peter Russell (1858–1930)
Sketch Portrait, Sir Alex Onslow, 1896 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)
Sketch Portrait, Sir Alex Onslow, 1896 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)
Silent Bob Bates, 1895 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)
Silent Bob Bates, 1895 by Tom Roberts (1856–1931)
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Related information

The sisters, 1904
The sisters, 1904
The sisters, 1904
The sisters, 1904

Beguiling impressions

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2012

Sarah Engledow is seduced by the portraits and the connections between the artists and their subjects in the exhibition Impressions: Painting light and life.
Practising the Minuet (Miss Hilda Spong)
Practising the Minuet (Miss Hilda Spong)
Practising the Minuet (Miss Hilda Spong)
Practising the Minuet (Miss Hilda Spong)

An actress and her fans

Magazine article by Dr Sarah Engledow, 2008

Dr. Sarah Engledow discovers the amazing life of Ms. Hilda Spong, little remembered star of the stage, who was captured in a portrait by Tom Roberts.
Sir Macfarlane Burnet
Sir Macfarlane Burnet
Sir Macfarlane Burnet
Sir Macfarlane Burnet

Picture this...

Magazine article by Andrew Sayers AM, 2003

This edited version of a speech by Andrew Sayers examines some of the antecedents of the National Portrait Gallery and set out the ideas behind the modern Gallery and its collection.
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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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