The National Portrait Gallery houses portraits of movers and shakers in British history from the Tudors to the present day making it a must for lovers of art. Founded in 1856, the collection on display is amongst the most comprehensive in the world and no restrictions are placed on the mediums used. As well as the traditional oil paintings and watercolors there are drawings, miniatures, sculptures, silhouettes, caricatures and photographs. The subjects on show range from Oliver Cromwell to Jarvis Cocker. Admission is free.
Bern Schwartz Jul 10th, 2008 to Jan 4th, 2009
Subtitled Portraits of the 1970s, this exhibit features 30 photos by the late American photographer. Some of the works on display include such celebrities as David Hockney, Lady Diana Cooper and Margaret Thatcher. In Room 33. On the Web: www.bernschwartz.org
Pietro Annigoni: Princess Margaret Nov 19th, 2008 to Mar 8th, 2009
Pietro Annigoni: Princess Margaret was painted in 1957 and is on loan to the museum from Viscount Linley, her son. The painting will be a part of an exhibition containing many of Princess Margaret's photographs.
Shakespeare and his Circle Nov 19th, 2008 to Jan 31st, 2009
Shakespeare and other writers during this period contributed a lot to literature. Their portraits -Shakespeare and his Circle- as they are called, make up the exhibition. The paintings belongs to their period.
Sporting Lives: Contemporary Portraits of Athletes and Olympians Nov 19th, 2008 to Jan 11th, 2009
Sporting Lives: Contemporary Portraits of Athletes and Olympians is a collection of three paintings David, Goodhew and Sustained Endeavor. all in a way honoring the British athletes that have won medals in the previous Olympics.
Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer's Life 1990-2005 Purchase tickets for:
Stephen Spender Jan 13th, 2009 to Jul 15th, 2009
Stephen Spender exhibition is all about Stephen, a modern poet who was famous for challenging the usual style of the poetry form. The exhibition includes pictures, and sketches.