The National Portrait Gallery is a perfect venue for learning about portraiture, its importance throughout the ages and most importantly, how portraiture went into a whole new phase of expression during the 20th century.
As from the 1960s, the world knew of a new prosperity after a devastative war; new artistic movements emerged, promoting art which reflected modern society and its changing standards, like Pop Art, Abstract Art and Conceptual Art. During the 1980s however there was a revival in figurative painting, and the result was a profusion of styles which, together, formed this gust of wind which veered portraiture to a whole new direction. This, was a new turn in contemporary art history.
The 1960s-1990s section of the National Portrait Gallery is the best place to analyse how depicting portraiture in the 20ieth was a challenge. Sketches of certain portraits are shown herein as well as notes recording what was pertinent about each and every one of them.
DAVID SYLVESTER
by Larry Rivers (1923-2002)
oil on canvas, 1962
KENNETH CLARK, BARON CLARK
by Graham Sutherland (1903-80)
oil on canvas
Portraits of LADY DIANA (1981) & PRINCE CHARLES (1980)
by Brayan Organ
acrylic on canvas
FRANCIS BACON
by Ruskin Spear (1911-90)
oil on board, 1984
BILL MORIS Self Portrait of LEON KOSSOFF
by John Keane oil on board, 1981
oil on Inkjet printed cotton mounted on canvas
PAUL McCARNEY
Mike's BROTHER
by Sam Walsh (1934-89)
Victorian Family Portraits
THE ROYAL FAMILY AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE
by Sir John Lavery (1856-1941)
oil on canvas, 1913
The National Art Gallery is home to hundreds of pre-modernist paintings, including the Renaissance and pre-Renaissance masterpieces found in the Sainsbury Wing. Though most of the time it is repetitive, boring and intense in religious imagery and symbolism, dropping by this wing can be quite educating if one takes the time to look and appreciate.
THE ADORATION OF THE KINGS, about 1500 (bottom left)
by Vincenzo Foppa
&
SAINT MICHAEL TRIUMPHS OVER THE DEVIL, 1468 (bottom right)
by Bartolome Bermenjo
THE VIRGIN & CHILD WITH SAINTS, about 1435-41 (bottom left)
by Pisanello
&
SAINTS JOHN THE BAPTIST & LAWRENCE, about 1480 (bottom right)
by Hans Memling
egg on oak
