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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.

Expect the unexpected

Joanna Gilmour revels in accidental artist Charles Rodius’ nineteenth century renderings of Indigenous peoples.

More information on Expect the unexpected

Selected images

12 images
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Self portrait
Self portrait, c. 1849 Charles Rodius
Bust-length portrait of Toby, an indigenous Australian man from the Coal River or Hunter River Tribe, facing front, 1834-5
Bust-length portrait of Toby, an indigenous Australian man from the Coal River or Hunter River Tribe, facing front, 1834-5
Bust length portrait of Biddy Salamander, an indigenous Australian woman from the Broken Bay tribe, wearing a head-scarf, turned half to the left, 1834-5
Bust length portrait of Biddy Salamander, an indigenous Australian woman from the Broken Bay tribe, wearing a head-scarf, turned half to the left, 1834-5
Portrait of Nunberri, Chief of the Nunnerahs, an indigenous Australian man, wearing a high collar, in profile to left, 1834-5
Portrait of Nunberri, Chief of the Nunnerahs, an indigenous Australian man, wearing a high collar, in profile to left, 1834-5
Portrait of Culaba, an indigenous Australian man and husband of Punch, looking down slightly to left, 1834
Portrait of Culaba, an indigenous Australian man and husband of Punch, looking down slightly to left, 1834
Bust-length portrait of Punch, an indigenous Australian woman and wife of Culaba, in profile to left, 1834
Bust-length portrait of Punch, an indigenous Australian woman and wife of Culaba, in profile to left, 1834
Bust-length portrait of King Jack Waterman, an indigenous Australian man, wearing a gorget, or kingplate, around his neck and a scarf or bandanna around his head, 1834
Bust-length portrait of King Jack Waterman, an indigenous Australian man, wearing a gorget, or kingplate, around his neck and a scarf or bandanna around his head, 1834
Two portrait views of the head of an un-named young bearded indigenous Australian man, full face and in profile to left, 1834-5
Two portrait views of the head of an un-named young bearded indigenous Australian man, full face and in profile to left, 1834-5
Portrait of Oltery[?] Chief of Otago, New Zealand, a heavily-tattooed Maori man in profile to right, 1834
Portrait of Oltery[?] Chief of Otago, New Zealand, a heavily-tattooed Maori man in profile to right, 1834
Portrait of Qualla[?] from Otago, New Zealand, a tattooed Maori man in profile to left, with, lower left, a detail of the tattoo between his eyebrows, 1834-5
Portrait of Qualla[?] from Otago, New Zealand, a tattooed Maori man in profile to left, with, lower left, a detail of the tattoo between his eyebrows, 1834-5
Bust-length portrait of ‘Edanghe from long Islands’, a heavily-tattooed Maori man, 1834-35
Bust-length portrait of ‘Edanghe from long Islands’, a heavily-tattooed Maori man, 1834-35
Two views, full face and in profile to left, of the head of Taekghi[?] from Kangango[?], a heavily tattooed Maori man, with a detail of the tattoo on his forehead, 1834-5
Two views, full face and in profile to left, of the head of Taekghi[?] from Kangango[?], a heavily tattooed Maori man, with a detail of the tattoo on his forehead, 1834-5
12 images
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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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