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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.

Search / bessie gibson

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Bessie Gibson

Bessie Gibson (1868-1961), like Harold Parker, studied under Godfrey Rivers at the Brisbane Central Technical College, where she developed an interest in miniature painting.

1 portrait in the collection

Harold Parker

Harold Parker

Harold Parker

Harold Parker, c. 1906

Portrait, watercolour on ivory in locket frame

Gift of Rosamond Shepherd 2010. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.

Bessie Lee

Betsy (Bessie) Lee

Betsy (Bessie) Lee Cowie (1860–1950), 'Australia's Temperance Queen', spent the early part of her life in Daylesford, Victoria, one of the five children of Henry Vickery, a butcher and miner, and his wife Emma.

1 portrait in the collection

Bessie Lee

Bessie Lee

Bessie Lee

Bessie Lee, c. 1890

Yeoman & Co, Melbourne

Portrait, gelatin silver photograph on cabinet card

Purchased 2017

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson AO

Mel Gibson (b. 1956), actor, was born in New York state, the sixth of eleven children of a railroad brakeman and an Australian opera singer.

1 portrait in the collection

Sir Robert Gibson

Sir Robert Gibson

Sir Robert Gibson GBE (1863-1934) trained in design and drafting in Glasgow, where he began work as a designer at an iron company; he soon became manager of its London office.

1 portrait in the collection

Jezeril II, 2014 by Douglas Gibson

Jezeril II, 2014

by Douglas Gibson

Harbour road, 2010 by Gibson Nolte

Harbour road, 2010

by Gibson Nolte

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Brett Canét-Gibson

Brett Canét-Gibson (b. 1965) has a 25-year career as an image maker, Creative Director, writer and communicator in portrait, still life and landscape commercial and editorial photography, graphic design and visual arts.

3 portraits in the collection

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson, 1982

Portrait, type C photograph on paper

Purchased 2003

Saide, R.Y.S. (Charles Gibson Millar)

Charles Gibson Millar

Charles Gibson Millar (1839–1900), entrepreneur, was engaged in a number of industrial and agricultural enterprises in Australia during the 1870s, 80s and 90s.

1 portrait in the collection

Bodie, 2017 by Brett Canet-Gibson

Bodie, 2017

by Brett Canet-Gibson

Mastura, 2016 by Brett Canet-Gibson

Mastura, 2016

by Brett Canet-Gibson

Jessica, 2014 by Brett Canet-Gibson

Jessica, 2014

by Brett Canet-Gibson

Tiffany, 2015 by Brett Canet-Gibson

Tiffany, 2015

by Brett Canet-Gibson

The Life of Riley, 2014 by Brett Canet-Gibson

Observation Point

Magazine article by Brett Canét-Gibson, 2018

Portrait photography, by definition, is a collaboration. It is also the grandest of lies masquerading as the ultimate truth.

© 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