Skip to main content
Menu

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.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Nancy Wake - The White Mouse

2001
Melissa Beowulf

oil on canvas (support: 180.0 cm x 140.0 cm)

Nancy Wake AC (1912–2011), war heroine, grew up in Sydney and moved to Paris to become a journalist. In 1940, when living in Marseilles, she began driving an ambulance, delivering supplies to refugees and English prisoners. Between 1940 and 1942 she helped to maintain escape routes through France. She became one of the Gestapo's most wanted, who code-named her The White Mouse. The Resistance arranged her removal to England to train in Special Operations. Parachuted back into France in 1944, she took charge of 7000 Maquisard resistance fighters, who helped sabotage German communications systems on D-Day. For her incredible efforts, Wake was awarded the George Medal, 1939–45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, British War Medal 1939–45, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, Croix de Guerre with Star and Two Palms, US Medal for Freedom with Palm, and the Medaille de la Resistance.

Despite being one of the most decorated war heroes, Wake had never received an award under the Australian honours system. Melissa Beowulf painted this 2001 portrait to help Wake gain the recognition she deserved, finding her a lively sitter, 'with an infectious humour' ready to tell 'countless tales of her life'. Wake finally received Companion of the Order of Australia in 2004 when she was 92.

Purchased with funds provided by L Gordon Darling AC CMG 2004
© Melissa Beowulf/Copyright Agency, 2024

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Melissa Beowulf (age 44 in 2001)

Nancy Wake AC (age 89 in 2001)

Subject professions

Military

Supported by

L Gordon Darling AC CMG (38 portraits supported)

Related portraits

1. Donald Horne, 2000. All Melissa Beowulf.
© National Portrait Gallery 2024
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
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