National Portrait Gallery

London, GB

National Portrait Gallery
National Portrait Gallery
Location
London, GB
Category
iconic bucket list
Coordinates
51.509444444, -0.128055555
Best time
Morning or early afternoon
Weather tip
Check the local forecast before visiting.
Opening hours
Su-Th 10:30-18:00; Fr-Sa 10:30-21:00

Overview

The National Portrait Gallery, located adjacent to Trafalgar Square in London, serves as the primary repository for portraits of historically significant and famous British people. Established in 1856, it was the first portrait gallery in the world to open to the public. Visitors come to explore a collection that spans from the Tudor period to the contemporary era, featuring everything from oil paintings and sculptures to photographs and caricatures. The gallery is widely considered one of the essential places to visit for those interested in the intersection of art and British biography.

Following a major three-year redevelopment completed in 2023, the museum now offers enhanced gallery spaces and a new entrance on St Martin’s Place. When considering what to do in the area, a visit here provides a unique chronological journey through the faces that shaped the United Kingdom, from monarchs and scientists to pop culture icons. The collection is organized primarily by historical period, allowing for a clear understanding of how portraiture and British identity have evolved over five centuries. Expect a scholarly yet accessible atmosphere where the focus remains firmly on the sitter's contribution to history rather than just the artist's technique.

General information

The National Portrait Gallery, located adjacent to Trafalgar Square in London, serves as the primary repository for portraits of historically significant and famous British people. Established in 1856, it was the first portrait gallery in the world to open to the public. Visitors come to explore a collection that spans from the Tudor period to the contemporary era, featuring everything from oil paintings and sculptures to photographs and caricatures. The gallery is widely considered one of the essential places to visit for those interested in the intersection of art and British biography.

Following a major three-year redevelopment completed in 2023, the museum now offers enhanced gallery spaces and a new entrance on St Martin’s Place. When considering what to do in the area, a visit here provides a unique chronological journey through the faces that shaped the United Kingdom, from monarchs and scientists to pop culture icons. The collection is organized primarily by historical period, allowing for a clear understanding of how portraiture and British identity have evolved over five centuries. Expect a scholarly yet accessible atmosphere where the focus remains firmly on the sitter's contribution to history rather than just the artist's technique.

Did you know

  • The gallery's criteria for inclusion was historically based on the importance of the sitter, not the artist, a rule that remains central to its mission today.
  • The collection includes the 'Chandos' portrait, which is the most famous likeness of William Shakespeare and the very first portrait the gallery acquired.
  • In 1914, suffragette Mary Wood slashed a portrait of Henry James here to protest the government's treatment of women's rights activists.

History

Founded in 1856, the National Portrait Gallery was championed by Philip Henry Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope, alongside Thomas Babington Macaulay and Thomas Carlyle. Their goal was to create a 'pantheon' of British worthies. The gallery moved to its current site, a Neo-Renaissance building designed by Ewan Christian, in 1896. Over the decades, the institution survived the Blitz and underwent several expansions, most notably the Ondaatje Wing in 2000. Between 2020 and 2023, the gallery underwent its most significant transformation, titled 'Inspiring People,' which involved a total refurbishment of the building and a complete re-display of the collection to better represent the diversity of British history.

Cultural significance

The National Portrait Gallery holds immense cultural weight as the visual record of the British people. Unlike traditional art museums that prioritize aesthetic movements, this institution functions as a biographical archive. It plays a critical role in defining British identity by deciding whose faces are preserved for posterity. By including activists, scientists, and commoners alongside royalty, the gallery reflects changing societal values. Its annual Portrait Prize is one of the most prestigious competitions in the contemporary art world, ensuring that the tradition of portraiture remains a vibrant and evolving medium in the 21st century.

Geography and landscape

Situated in the heart of London’s West End, the gallery stands on the north side of Trafalgar Square. It is physically connected to the National Gallery but maintains its own distinct architectural identity. The building is constructed of Portland stone, typical of London's grand civic architecture. Its urban context is bustling, surrounded by St Martin-in-the-Fields church and the busy thoroughfares of Charing Cross Road. The recent architectural interventions have opened the building toward Leicester Square, integrating it more seamlessly into the surrounding pedestrian landscape of central London.

More facts

  • Imported from OpenStreetMap batch
  • Imported from Wikidata

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