I am delighted that this relationship has been formed as photography at the NGV has been largely ‘off view’ since the gallery closed for major renovations. Now, in the lead up to the opening of our two campuses (The Ian Potter Centre NGV: Australian Art and NGV: St Kilda Road), it seems a good time to remind people of the richness and depth of our collection. Indeed, the NGV holds one of Australia’s most notable photographic collections with over 10,000 art photographs. We also have the distinction of being the first gallery in this country to recognise the importance of creative photography, establishing a separate curatorial department of photography in 1968.

Our increased exhibition spaces will give us the opportunity to display more of our collection, including major archives by artists such as Athol Shmith. As one of Australia’s leading fashion and theatrical photographers for over fifty years, Shmith created many memorable and stylish images, which drew, in part, on Hollywood glamour portraiture. In this photograph of his then wife, Patricia Shmith (now Lady Harewood), he chose a bower of ivy in the comer of a derelict building as the setting, attracted no doubt by the contrast between the dark leaves and his sitter’s luminous skin. Although her rather solemn expression suggests she did not especially enjoy the experience, Shmith considered this distinctive work to be ‘one of my favourite photographs of Patricia; I like its serenity and casualness’.