An "exquisite" portrait by Whanganui artist Felicity Priest of former New Zealand Opera student Stephen Diaz was gifted to the Sarjeant Gallery's permanent collection on Wednesday night.
The painting's subject is described as having one of the finest counter tenor voices in the world.
New Zealand Opera School chairman Donald Trott said the portrait of Diaz had travelled around New Zealand in an exhibition two years ago and had attracted a lot of interested buyers.
"It was such a beautiful painting I bought it and decided to gift it back to Whanganui to the gallery. Stephen's career really took off here so it was right the portrait should be in the place where he started."
Inspired by great French artists Edgar Degas and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Priest's exhibition currently at the gallery features performance moments during New Zealand Opera School over the past four years.