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National Portrait Gallery: A Portrait of Britain
A national pantheon of the greatest names in British history and culture, the Collection of the National Portrait Gallery contains more than 11,000 paintings, sculptures and works on paper and over a quarter of a million photographs. There are kings and queens, courtiers and courtesans, politicians and poets, soldiers and scientists, artists and writers, philosophers and film stars individuals from every sphere. This book presents a broad selection of the personalities that have shaped the last four centuries of British life, from Elizabeth I to David Beckham, from Shakespeare to Seamus Heaney, portrayed by artists as diverse as Hans Holbein, David Bailey, Joshua Reynolds and Paula Rego. The featured works are arranged chronologically in sections, each of which is prefaced by a text written by the curator responsible for that period, drawing on their expert knowledge and recent research. Each image is accompanied by an extended caption that provides key information on the sitter and the artist and places the work in its historical and creative context. Special features, which include making art in Tudor Britain, miniatures, sculpture, early photography, twenty- and twenty-first-century photography, self-portraits, celebrity and non-traditional media, offer insight into particular areas of the Collection. A fascinating introductory essay explains the history and purpose of this great public institution and is illustrated with a wealth of rare and illuminating material from the Gallerys extensive archive, including photographs, plans, letters and sketchbooks, some previously unpublished.
- GenresNonfictionArt
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 27, 2014
About the author
National Portrait Gallery London
112 books2 followersThe National Portrait Gallery (NPG) is an art gallery in London that houses a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people.
When it opened in 1856, it was arguably the first national public gallery in the world that was dedicated to portraits. The gallery moved in 1896 to its current site at St Martin's Place, off Trafalgar Square, and adjoining the National Gallery.
The National Portrait Gallery in London is unconnected to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh. .
When it opened in 1856, it was arguably the first national public gallery in the world that was dedicated to portraits. The gallery moved in 1896 to its current site at St Martin's Place, off Trafalgar Square, and adjoining the National Gallery.
The National Portrait Gallery in London is unconnected to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh. .
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 20, 2015
The perfect book for Anglophiles everywhere - a history of Britain, told through its people - kings and queens, politicians, poets and writers, scientists, actors and sports people. From the 15th to the 21st century...we are presented with a parade of superb portraits, each accompanied by a text describing the achievements of the person shown, and the circumstances in which the portrait was painted.
One gets a wonderfully rounded picture of the movers and shakers in each century. So often we read a book about a specific person, but here everyone comes together, century after century, and one gets a marvellous glimpse of the Zeitgeist of the times - in the arts, sciences, and socially as well.
There are also short chapters - I think of them as teaching chapters - on difference aspects of portraiture. Firstly each century is introduced, with descriptions of portraiture during that period, but there are also chapters on how early portraits were made, miniatures, sculpture, early photography, self-portraits, and celebrity.
The pictures are a delight. Not that you would guess it from the following illustrations..... Apologies - but my scanner creates some sort of moiré effect. At least these pix will give you some idea of the scope of the book. I thought it was an excellent read - part history, part biography and part coffee table eye candy. The whole book was a real pleasure. I wish I had been given it when studying for my history exams at school. It lights up its subjects, and brings an overall coherence to each century that is incredibly useful.
Thomas Cromwell. Portrait after Hans Holbein the Younger, early 17th century, after a portrait of c1532-3.
A portrait of that is probably of Shakespeare - the first picture even given to The National Portrait Gallery in London. It is attributed to John Taylor. c1600-1610.
Sir Walter Ralegh. Artist unknown. Dated 1588.
Sir Anthony Van Dyck. Self Portrait 1640
George Byron by Thomas Phillips 1835.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning by Michele Gordigiani 1858.
Mary Seacole, the nurse known for her work in the Crimean War. Painted by Albert Charles Challen in 1860/
WC Grace, the famous cricketer. Attributed to Archibald Wortley 1890
AA Milne and Christopher Robin. Photograph by Howard Coster in 1926.
Ted Hughes sketched by Sylvia Plath in 1957.
JK Rowling by Stuart Pearson Wright 2005
One gets a wonderfully rounded picture of the movers and shakers in each century. So often we read a book about a specific person, but here everyone comes together, century after century, and one gets a marvellous glimpse of the Zeitgeist of the times - in the arts, sciences, and socially as well.
There are also short chapters - I think of them as teaching chapters - on difference aspects of portraiture. Firstly each century is introduced, with descriptions of portraiture during that period, but there are also chapters on how early portraits were made, miniatures, sculpture, early photography, self-portraits, and celebrity.
The pictures are a delight. Not that you would guess it from the following illustrations..... Apologies - but my scanner creates some sort of moiré effect. At least these pix will give you some idea of the scope of the book. I thought it was an excellent read - part history, part biography and part coffee table eye candy. The whole book was a real pleasure. I wish I had been given it when studying for my history exams at school. It lights up its subjects, and brings an overall coherence to each century that is incredibly useful.
Thomas Cromwell. Portrait after Hans Holbein the Younger, early 17th century, after a portrait of c1532-3.
A portrait of that is probably of Shakespeare - the first picture even given to The National Portrait Gallery in London. It is attributed to John Taylor. c1600-1610.
Sir Walter Ralegh. Artist unknown. Dated 1588.
Sir Anthony Van Dyck. Self Portrait 1640
George Byron by Thomas Phillips 1835.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning by Michele Gordigiani 1858.
Mary Seacole, the nurse known for her work in the Crimean War. Painted by Albert Charles Challen in 1860/
WC Grace, the famous cricketer. Attributed to Archibald Wortley 1890
AA Milne and Christopher Robin. Photograph by Howard Coster in 1926.
Ted Hughes sketched by Sylvia Plath in 1957.
JK Rowling by Stuart Pearson Wright 2005
Displaying 1 of 1 review