Now You See Me: The History and Mystery of Cryptoportraits in European Art

Presented by Dr Sophie Oosterwijk

A portrait can be much more than a straightforward likeness of a person. A cryptoportrait may, at first sight, not look like a portrait at all because it can be ‘disguised’ e.g. as an Adoration of the Magi with real people playing the parts of the Magi, or as a statue of a prophet or saint with the features of a patron. Throughout Western art we may discover such concealed portraits if we look carefully and are prepared to recognise these visual games that artists and patrons chose to play with the beholder.

Dates and Locations

Thursday 7 August 2025 Yarra (VIC)

Saturday 16 August 2025 Gold Coast (QLD)

Friday 22 August​ 2025 Brisbane River (QLD)

Click on your preferred location above for more details and to book tickets.