The National Portrait Gallery features a large collection of portraits depicting prominent figures from British history. Although the focus is on paintings, the gallery’s collection also includes caricatures, drawings and sculpture.
The gallery has been criticised for focusing more on celebrities who are the subject of the paintings rather than on the painter and in many ways it is like a Madame Tussauds for paintings. This focus carries through when selecting works with the gallery giving priority to the significance of the subject rather than the artist and also to the descriptive labels that focus more on the subject than on the artist. However, this also means that the gallery is more accessible to the average person who may not have a deep understanding of art.
The National Portrait Gallery recently underwent a major redevelopment project where it was closed for three years, reopening on 22 June 2023. The redevelopment project resulted in the creation of a new entrance, a new Learning Centre, an upgrade to the gallery spaces and reopening the gallery’s East Wing (now known as the Weston Wing).
The National Portrait Gallery is a fascinating museum, not so much because of the standard of the artwork on display (not all the pictures are that great) but primarily because the descriptive labels accompanying the artworks give you a concise biography of the interesting lives led by the subjects of the portraits on display. It is a great way to learn about the characters that shaped British history.
What to see at the National Portrait Gallery
The museum’s primary collection features over 11,000 portraits. The museum’s permanent galleries focus on historical and more contemporary portraits and these are complemented by a programme of temporary exhibitions.
The gallery’s most famous portrait is the Chandos portrait, considered the most famous portrait of William Shakespeare.
Another highlight of the gallery’s collection is Sir Joshua Reynolds’ portrait of Mai (Omai), who was a Polynesian visitor to 18th-century England. In 2022 the painting was jointly acquired by both the National Portrait Gallery and the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. The painting will be shared between both institutions and is currently on display at the National Portrait Gallery.
Other works on display include paintings, drawings and photographs of prominent figures of British history from the Tudor period up to the present day. These include plenty of barons, earls and lords as well as royalty and leading names in the arts, industry, politics and science.
Temporary exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery
In addition to its permanent collection, the National Portrait Gallery hosts a programme of temporary exhibitions. Current and planned exhibitions include:
Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm
This exhibition (until 1 October 2023) features over 250 photographs taken by McCartney himself during the Beatlemania era and offers a unique glimpse into McCartney’s life and the early days of the Beatles. The exhibition offers a deeply personal perspective of the Beatles’ early days in Britain to the band’s first tour of the United States and the chaos and controversies they encountered on their rise to fame. £22–24.50.
Yevonde: Life and Colour
The Yevonde: Life and Colour exhibition (until 15 October 2023) focuses on the legacy of Yevonde Middleton (1893–1975), one of the 20th century’s most important and innovative photographers who is celebrated for her pioneering use of colour photography. £15–17.
David Hockney: Drawing from Life
The David Hockney exhibition (2 November 2023–21 January 2024) showcases over 150 drawings by one of Britain’s most influential artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. The exhibition spans Hockney’s artistic journey from the 1950s to the present day with works that encompass a diverse array of subjects, including self-portraits and intimate portraits of friends and family. £21–23.50.
Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2023
The Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize is an annual photography competition that attracts entries from around the world. The 2023 exhibition (9 November 2023–25 February 2024) features over 50 shortlisted photographs, alongside the winning and commended images. £8.50–9.50)
The Time is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure
This exhibition (22 February–19 May 2024) explores the representation of black people in contemporary art and features over 60 works by artists including Michael Armitage, Lubaina Himid, Kerry James Marshall, Toyin Ojih Odutola and Amy Sherald.
Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In
This exhibition (21 March–30 June 2024) showcases the work of two of the most influential women in the history of photography: American photographer Francesca Woodman (1958–1981) and English photographer Julia Margaret Cameron (1815–1879). The exhibition brings together over 150 rare vintage prints by Woodman and Cameron, and it highlights the way photographic portraiture was created in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Visiting the National Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery is located immediately north of the National Gallery and it is a three-minute walk from both Charing Cross and Leicester Square tube stations. The main entrance is on Ross Place, near where Charing Cross Road and St Martins Place meet.
The gallery is open daily. Admission to the primary collection is free of charge; however, there is a charge to visit most temporary exhibitions.
The National Portrait Gallery is fully wheelchair accessible.
An audio guide is available on the Bloomberg Connects app, which you can download from the App Store or Google Play. It is available in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. British Sign Language and audio-described versions of the audio tour are also available.
There are a couple of places to eat and drink within the gallery including a fine dining restaurant and a cafe and bar.
Most people spend 2–3 hours visiting the National Portrait Gallery and people with an interest in British history often make several trips to the gallery each time focusing on a specific period or theme from Britain’s history.
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