Deborah Mailman, 1999 by Evert Ploeg; Quentin Bryce, 2016 by Michael Zavros; Dr Brown and Green Old Time Waltz, 1983 by Harold Thornton. National Portrait Gallery, Canberra.

I was told the stories behind the portraits at the National Portrait Gallery last week and the place came alive!

My guide told me that Deborah Mailman was getting a cramp while sitting for the artist in a forward pose, so she relaxed back on her hands and he said, “Freeze!” Thanks to Deborah’s cramp, Evert Ploeg brilliantly captured her with a true-to-life, happy and serene image.

My guide also said that Bob Brown was embarrassed that he was made to look like a saint in his portrait within the Franklin River campaign painting, exclaiming that hundreds more were involved in the stymying of the Tasmanian dam project.

But the story that took the cake was Quentin Bryce’s reaction when she first saw her portrait completed: “I’ll wait to hear if my grandchildren like it.” Clearly Quentin Bryce’s grandchildren speak their minds, as most children beautifully and naturally do; they know their grandma inside and out so are the best critics; and their opinions mean a great deal to her.

Quentin Bryce’s story warms my heart because it highlights the wonderful two-way relationship she has with her grandchildren. The highway between generations is valuable indeed.