The nineteenth century saw a blurring of traditional distinctions between sitters and models, as the convenience of photography led to a decline in the demand for commissioned portraits. For many women (and men) posing for uncommissioned studies offered the chance to supplement an income strained by the economic conditions of post-boom period Melbourne - enabling the artists to develop and display their skills. Bernard Hall maintained a list of more than sixty men and women as models for his own work and that of the Gallery students. Although it is not always recognised, the majority of Hall’s portraits were of paid models, or of friends who were willing to act in this capacity. His writing reveals the a profound respect for these models who played such a vital role in the creation of the art of Australia. Any information about those who modelled for the School or its artists would therefore be of immense value in developing a fuller understanding of the whole process.