How are engravings and mezzotints made? | Artistic Techniques National Portrait Gallery 2023-06-21 | Today we look at engravings and mezzotints as we continue to explore different techniques. Watch printmakers Sarah Gillespie and Paul Kirkup make an engraving and a mezzotint, demonstrating the tools and techniques used in making this type of portrait.An audio-described version of this film can be found here: youtube.com/watch?v=uBczsilDYIgDon't forget to see their prints on display at the Gallery: npg.org.uk/visit
Artist in focus: Peter Brathwaite National Portrait Gallery 2024-09-10 | Join artist and opera singer Peter Brathwaite as he takes us behind-the-scenes of his artistic process and explains how he uses everyday objects to make important connections between the past and present, and tell vibrant stories through his art work.Explore further at: www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/artist-in-focus-peter-brathwaite
It takes a village to install a suit of armour, especially Henry VIIIs! National Portrait Gallery 2024-09-06 | Currently on loan from @royalarmouriesmuseum, you can see this in #SixLives - exhibition ends 8 September 2024. ⚔️ Henry VIII’s armour, c.1540 © Royal Armouries, London
The #LucianFreud archive National Portrait Gallery 2024-08-28 | Alongside the latest display rotation in Room 26, you can now watch Bella Freud talk about her father and his devotion to portraiture. Watch the full interview here: youtube.com/watch?v=p_YW5mG9iC4
Catherine Parr from Six the Musical tells us a must know fact about her #tudorqueen National Portrait Gallery 2024-08-27 | Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens open until 8 September 2024. Book now via our website: www.npg.org.uk/sixlives
Katherine Howard from Six the Musical tells us which song best represents #SixLives National Portrait Gallery 2024-08-27 | Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens open until 8 September 2024. Book now via our website: www.npg.org.uk/sixlives
Anne of Cleves from Six the Musical tells us who is their most misunderstood Queen in #SixLives National Portrait Gallery 2024-08-27 | Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens open until 8 September 2024. Book now via our website: www.npg.org.uk/sixlives
Jane Seymour from Six the Musical tells us which #Tudor Queen they would rather play and why National Portrait Gallery 2024-08-27 | Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens open until 8 September 2024. Book now via our website: www.npg.org.uk/sixlives
Anne Boleyn from Six the Musical gives us three words on her #TudorQueen National Portrait Gallery 2024-08-27 | Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens open until 8 September 2024. Book now via our website: www.npg.org.uk/sixlives
Catherine of Aragon from Six the Musical answers a very important question about #SixLives National Portrait Gallery 2024-08-27 | Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens open until 8 September 2024. Book now via our website: www.npg.org.uk/sixlives
Installing Henry VIIIs Armour for Field and Tournament | Behind the Scenes at NPG National Portrait Gallery 2024-08-23 | See how this suit of armour, which belonged to King Henry VIII, was installed at the Gallery for our exhibition Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII's Queens.Plan your visit: npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/2024/six-lives
History explainer: who was Toussaint LOuverture? National Portrait Gallery 2024-08-13 | Discover the extraordinary story of Toussaint L’Ouverture, a remarkable leader who led the most successful uprising against slavery in history. In this video we consider how he has been represented in historical portraits and explore how contemporary artists are offering new perspectives and reinterpretations of his legacy.Find out more at www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/history-explainer-who-was-toussaint-louverture
Installing a costume from SIX The Musical | Behind the Scenes at NPG National Portrait Gallery 2024-07-30 | Hear actress Nikki Bentley describe performing in the Catherine of Aragon costume from SIX The Musical, and see how it was installed in the Gallery for the exhibition Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII's Queens.Plan your visit: npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/2024/six-lives
Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIIIs Queens | Exhibition Trailers National Portrait Gallery 2024-07-19 | Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens is the first major exhibition to focus on the women who married the infamous Tudor king. Exploring agency, influence and the Queen’s lasting cultural impact, this exhibition will take you on a journey through time – from contemporary portraits by Hiroshi Sugimoto and costume from west-end sensation SIX the Musical to sixteenth-century portraits by Hans Holbein the Younger, shown alongside a magnificent tapestry, textiles, books and jewels. 20 June - 8 September 2024Plan your visit via the link: npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/2024/six-lives🎥 Fully Fledged Films
Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award 2024 | Exhibition Trailers National Portrait Gallery 2024-07-19 | The Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award makes a welcome return to the National Portrait Gallery for 2024. The prestigious competition showcases the very best in contemporary portrait painting and is open to everyone aged eighteen and over. Since its inception over 40 years ago, the competition has attracted over 40,000 entries from more than 100 countries and the exhibition has been seen by over 6 million people.Plan your visit to see this free exhibition: npg.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/2024/hsf-portrait-award
Faces and Places National Portrait Gallery 2024-07-16 | Faces and Places is the National Portrait Gallery’s London outreach programme which first took place in 2021-22 when the Gallery closed for major redevelopment. Through Faces and Places, students actively engage with the diversity of people represented in the Gallery’s Collection, expand their knowledge of local history through people, discover artists and artworks, and are inspired to create their own artistic responses.
Access at the National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery 2024-07-02 | Hear from Martin Dougan as he demonstrates how to navigate our refurbished Gallery and access the numerous devices we have available to facilitate your visit, such as magnifying glasses, large print maps, hearing loops, and more.Learn more about access at the Gallery: npg.org.uk/visit/accessibility
Bella Freud | Lucian Freuds Sketchbooks National Portrait Gallery 2024-06-20 | Watch fashion designer, Bella Freud, talk about sitting for portraits by her father, the artist Lucian Freud, as she looks through sketchbooks from the Gallery’s Lucian Freud Archive. Explore the Lucian Freud Archive: npg.org.uk/collections/research/archive/lucian-freud-archive
Frank Paul | Lucian Freuds Sketchbooks National Portrait Gallery 2024-06-20 | Watch artist and presenter, Frank Paul, describe sitting for portraits by his father, the artist Lucian Freud, as he looks through sketchbooks from the Gallery’s Lucian Freud Archive. Explore the Lucian Freud Archive: npg.org.uk/collections/research/archive/lucian-freud-archive
Welcome to the National Portrait Gallery | What to expect from your school visit National Portrait Gallery 2024-06-06 | Watch this video to help you prepare for your school visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London.To find out more and book your school visit, go to: www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub
Installing Thomas J Price’s ‘As Sounds Turn To Noise’ | Behind the Scenes at NPG National Portrait Gallery 2024-04-08 | See how artist Thomas J Price’s work ‘As Sounds Turn to Noise’ was installed for the National Portrait Gallery’s 2024 exhibition The Time Is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure.
Alessandro Raho on his portrait of Dame Judi Dench National Portrait Gallery 2023-12-14 | Artist Alessandro Raho reflects on painting his striking, large-scale portrait of actress Judi Dench. He shares his experience of first meeting her, the surprising link between Judi Dench and Sarah Siddons, and what it was like to be commissioned to make this work by the NPG.See this portrait on display: npg.org.uk/visit
David Hockney: Drawing from Life National Portrait Gallery 2023-12-11 | David Hockney: Drawing from Life explores the artist’s work over the last six decades through his intimate portraits of five sitters: his mother, Celia Birtwell, Gregory Evans, Maurice Payne and the artist himself. Open until 21 January 2024🎥 Produced by Helen Plump
Designing the walls of the new National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery 2023-12-07 | Gainsborough Silk Weaving have a long-history of weaving wool, using both traditional and modern electronic looms, and we were excited to work with them on the new fabric wall hangings at the NPG. Hear from Lucy Peltz, Senior Curator of 18th Century Collections, and Neil Thomas, Managing Director of Gainsborough Silk Weaving, on how they took inspiration from the artworks on display to design the fabrics and colours.
Celebrating Contemporary Welsh Identity with Glynn Vivian Art Gallery – Working With Young People National Portrait Gallery 2023-11-29 | Glynn Vivian's youth programme, Young Art Force is an open art class which uses different materials and techniques to explore the Gallery's exhibitions and collection displays. In this film, colleagues at Glynn Vivian share their experiences in how they developed this youth programme and the importance of resources, outreach and encouragement. Film produced by Artdocs.
The story of Charles Is trial and execution - told through his portrait miniature National Portrait Gallery 2023-11-13 | The dramatic conclusion to the English civil wars was the beheading of King Charles I on 30 January 1649. This small portrait tells this story of Charles I's trial and execution, with the work having 17 mineral mica sheets that go over this miniature to illustrate key moments of this story. The miniature is currently on display at the NPG: npg.org.uk/visit
Welcome to the National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery 2023-10-25 | The NPG's story began in 1856, over 150 years ago when the original founders of the Gallery decided to start collecting the portraits of 'the most eminent persons in British history'.The role of the NPG remains the same today – telling the story of the nation through the people who shaped it. Following three years of closure that saw the most extensive redevelopment of our building since 1896, we're excited to have reopened our doors this year. Hear from our Director Nicholas Cullinan as he shares more about this transformation – which included a complete rehang of our Collection combined with the refurbishment of the building. Visit the NPG: npg.org.uk/visit
Pandora’s wine box by Tom Denbigh | A poem about the industrial revolution National Portrait Gallery 2023-10-24 | See poet Tom Denbigh performing his new piece 'Pandora's wine box', which is inspired by the National Portrait Gallery's hang in Room 16: Technological Transformations. In writing this poem, Tom looked at the industrial revolution and this creative age as if it were a party - with the guests being the innovators on our Gallery walls, including computer pioneers Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage. As well as being a poet and playwright, Tom is also a climate change scientist, and his poem explores the unintended consequences of the industrial revolution and the inevitable carbon hangover of that time. Visit Room 16 at the NPG: npg.org.uk/visit
Who was Toussaint LOuverture? | Iconic Individuals National Portrait Gallery 2023-10-24 | Born into slavery around 1743, Toussaint L’Ouverture was a Haitian general who became a leader and figurehead of an uprising of enslaved people that overcame French rule in St Domingue (now Haiti). Join us as we hear from writer Afua Hirsh and artists François Cauvin and Peter Brathwaite, who explore further the impact of Toussaint and contemporary re-imaginings of him.Explore further on our website: npg.org.uk/collections/toussaint-louverture
What makes a great museum shop? with Compton Verney and Hay Castle National Portrait Gallery 2023-10-12 | For many visitors, the museum, gallery or heritage site shop is an integral part of their visiting experience. Whether audiences are looking for a postcard, gift or seeking the perfect souvenir, the museum shop provides memories for our visitors, and a vital source of income for our organisations. This film captures practice sharing between colleagues at two very different sites, around the joys and challenges of retail in this environment. This film is an ART DOCS production.
Representing women and young people’s perspectives at Laing Art Gallery National Portrait Gallery 2023-10-12 | The question of how to create displays which represent the society that we live in is central to how the Laing Art Gallery tackles the growth and curation of its collections. In this film, colleagues share their approaches for making this happen - from hanging works by the date they were acquired (rather than chronologically) and fore-fronting the work of women artists, to embracing the views of young people. This film is an ART DOCS production.
Artists in Residence at Watts Gallery - Artists Village - Habib Hajallie: A British Hall of Fame National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-26 | This film explores how artist residencies can be of most benefit to both artists and galleries. Artist Habib Hajallie’s work explores themes of identity, representation and Britishness. During his residency at the Watts Gallery, he responded to portraits on display to create his most ambitious work to date, A British Hall of Fame. This included exploring the Faces of Fame exhibition which combined works from the Watts Gallery with photographic portraits from Simon Frederick’s Black is the New Black series, loaned from the National Portrait Gallery. Film by Creative Colony.
Curating A Century of Style with Ulster Museum and the National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-26 | How can curators with different areas of expertise work together to curate exhibitions? The A Century of Style exhibition brings together images from the National Portrait Gallery's collection by fashion photographers from the 1920s to the present day. This film tracks the learning and practice sharing that took place through the exhibition's development, such as the evolution of its themes including Designers, Model, Maker, Muse, and Art and Fashion. This film is an ART DOCS production.
Supporting staff and visitors engaging with the Troubles and Beyond exhibition at Ulster Museum National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-26 | This film shares Ulster Museum's approaches to training staff to support audiences in engaging with exhibitions and displays which are of a sensitive or difficult nature. It also explores the importance of working closely with communities over long periods of time to represent different voices and perspectives around complex, recent histories. This film is an ART DOCS production.
Creative Connections Southampton | NPG X Southampton City Art Gallery National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-26 | Watch the journey of our Creative Connections Southampton exhibition, where students from Cantell School - Proud members of the Aspire Community Trust worked with the artist Pete Codling to create portraits inspired by the city of Southampton. These exciting portraits join works from our Gallery's Collection and those from across Southampton City Art Gallery and Museum's collection in an exhibition celebrating the city of Southampton and the people that call it home. Creative Connections is funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, Art Fund, and with the generous support of the Palley family. Film by Leah Rustomjee
History explainer: how to use a portrait as a historical source National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-11 | What can portraits reveal to us? How can portraits unlock stories from the past?In this film, we demonstrate how to analyse portraits using fascinating examples from British history. We give you handy hints and things to look out for to help you discover useful information, make historical inferences, or kickstart an enquiry.Find out more at www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/history-explainer-how-to-use-a-portrait-as-a-historical-source
History explainer: the votes for women campaign National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-05 | How and why did campaigners win voting rights for women?The 'votes for women' campaign was one of the most important in the long fight for equal rights between men and women – a fight that is still going on today. This video introduces some of the different people involved in the campaign for women's suffrage (the right to vote in national elections), the methods they used in their campaigning, and why their struggle was so important.Explore further at: www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/history-explainer-the-votes-for-women-campaign
Art explainer: what can science tell us about Tudor portraits National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-05 | What secrets, surprises and insights can scientific techniques help us discover about the oldest portraits in the National Portrait Gallery's Collection?Conservation specialists at the National Portrait Gallery use a range of tools and techniques to make discoveries about the paintings and to take care of them. Members of the conservation team share secrets discovered using scientific techniques that help them to see beneath the surface of some of the Gallery's most important paintings.Explore further at: www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/art-explainer-what-can-science-tell-us-about-tudor-portraits
Artist demonstration: drawing top tips National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-05 | Artist Robin-Lee Hall has some practical tips to elevate your drawing.Robin-Lee Hall explains how to start drawing: what you need to use, how to set up your workspace and where to find inspiration. She demonstrates some warm-up techniques that will get you in the right frame of mind for drawing, and gives her advice on how to improve.Explore further at: www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/artist-demonstration-robins-drawing-top-tips
Art explainer: how to read a portrait National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-05 | Portraits can appear to be simply an image of a person, or a group of people. But by looking closely and ‘reading’ a portrait we can discover so much more.Consider what you can learn by looking closely at different portraits from the National Portrait Gallery's Collection. Develop your portrait analysis skills and explore how artists use different elements, techniques and media to communicate mood, feelings and ideas.Explore further at: www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/art-explainer-how-to-read-a-portrait
Art explainer: looking closely at portraits National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-05 | If you look at portraits closely, they can tell you all sorts of things. The more you look, the more you can discover!Try out different ways of looking closely at portraits and explore what they can tell you about the people in them.Explore further at: www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/art-explainer-looking-closely-at-portraits
Art Explainer: what is a portrait? National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-05 | What is a portrait, and why is every portrait different?There are lots of different portraits of all sorts of different people in the National Portrait Gallery’s Collection. They were made by artists in all sorts of ways. In this video we look at lots of portraits, small and large, old and new, to explore what a portrait can be. Explore further at: www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/art-explainer-what-is-a-portrait
Portrait in focus: Malala Yousafzai by Shirin Neshat National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-05 | Join activist Malala Yousafzai and artist Shirin Neshat as they explore the creation of Malala’s portrait and the importance of representing her powerful story.Artist Shirin Neshat talks about the creative decisions behind making a portrait of Malala and meeting the important challenge of showing who she is and what she represents. Malala Yousafzai reflects on her feelings about having her portrait made, the importance of including portraits of women and girls from different backgrounds in the National Portrait Gallery, and the powerful stories they can tell.Explore further at: www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/portrait-in-focus-malala-yousafzai-by-shirin-neshat
History explainer: John Blanke in Tudor Britain National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-05 | The Westminster Tournament Roll was created in 1511 to record a special event held by King Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon. The roll shows all sorts of activities, including trumpeters playing music. One of these musicians is John Blanke. His image in the roll is the earliest-known image of a Black person living in Britain whose name is known. This video focusses on certain details in the roll that help us discover what the Westminster Tournament was. We also discuss what historians know about the life of John Blanke, why he was an important person in the Tudor period, and why he holds a significant place in British history. Explore further at: www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/history-explainer-john-blanke-in-tudor-britain
Art explainer: making a mask National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-05 | Join sculptor Nick Reynolds as he makes a mask, discusses the long history of life masks and death masks, and explains why they are so fascinating.Nick Reynolds specialises in creating life masks from a mould of the sitter’s face. Watch him then demonstrate how he makes a mould using specialist materials, and outline the techniques involved in this process. Explore further at: www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/artist-explainer-making-a-mask
Artist in Focus: Lucian Freud’s sketchbooks National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-05 | What do sketchbooks reveal about the creative mind of one of the twentieth century’s most celebrated artists? Like many artists, Lucian Freud used sketchbooks in his everyday working life. This video looks at his sketchbooks, which span his entire career, to explore the creative processes behind his intensely observed portraits. By looking at his preparatory sketches, experiments with mark-making, and the notes he jotted down, you’ll gain insights into his working process – and be inspired to use sketchbooks to develop your own artistic practice. Explore further at: www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/artist-in-focus-lucian-freuds-sketchbooks
Art explainer: expressing identity through portraiture National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-05 | Get to grips with the idea of identity in art with a dazzling assortment of portraits, old and new.Our identity is what makes each of us unique. It can be a huge, complex concept, that goes beyond physical appearance. Explore the different ways artists have created portraits that express something about their sitters, and the sitter’s role in communicating their sense of self.Explore further at: www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/art-explainer-expressing-identity-through-portraiture
Art Explainer: what is a self-portrait? National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-05 | Explore what a self-portrait is, why artists make them, and be inspired to make one yourself.Discover a range of self-portraits from the National Portrait Gallery’s Collection and think about what they tell us about the artists who made them.Explore further at: www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/art-explainer-what-is-a-self-portrait
History explainer: migration stories National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-05 | Discover the stories of some of the people whose portraits are in the National Portrait Gallery who migrated to Britain from all over the world.Migration is when people move from one place to live in another. This video uses portraits to tell the stories of some of the people who have migrated to Britain throughout history. We discover their stories and the impact they have made. We consider some of the reasons why people migrate, and how migration shapes our everyday lives.Explore further at: www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/history-explainer-migration-stories
Artist in focus: Curtis Holder National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-05 | Artist Curtis Holder discusses how he uses drawing to support his mental health, how his artwork is informed by emotional connection, and how he puts his sitters at ease.Curtis Holder looks inwards, reflecting on what makes him different and how he uses that to create his art; and describes where he finds inspiration and how he gets into the right headspace to create. He also looks outwards, explaining how he finds sitters and helps them relax and focus, and talking through his artistic processes working from life, reference material and conversation.Explore further at: www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/artist-in-focus-curtis-holder
Artist in focus: Olivia Rose National Portrait Gallery 2023-09-05 | Artist Olivia Rose reveals how she achieves authenticity in her portrait photography, why being called an artist is scary, and what makes her happy in her art.Although she does not limit herself to one artform, Olivia Rose is particularly known for her photography, and she believes portraits are the ultimate photography. From her home studio in London, Olivia Rose talks about her work and her identity as an artist. She discusses how she got started and how she began to stand out as an artist. In this video, she reveals her essential equipment for photography, her sources of inspiration, and talks about the magic of shooting on film. She describes how she creates an atmosphere in her portrait photography, and how she makes a connection with her sitter, discussing her portrait of grime artist Stormzy.Explore further at: www.npg.org.uk/schools-hub/artist-in-focus-olivia-rose
