The 6 Unmissable Works At The National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery features a fantastically comprehensive range of British portraiture, spanning the medieval to the contemporary. Its display draws connections between artists, sitters and historical events and is represented by a wonderful array of media, including traditional painting, etching and sculpture. Here are some of the definitive highlights, from Pop artists to powerful monarchs.

‘Anne Boleyn’ by unknown artist, late 16th century

Although this painting is almost certainly a copy of a contemporary portrait, it is nevertheless the iconic image of one of British history’s most infamous women. It pictures her in fashionable dress, influenced by her extended tenure at the French court, and her iconic ‘B’ necklace. This depiction matches accounts that described her as having a long neck, wide mouth and ‘eyes which were black and beautiful’.

‘Queen Elizabeth I (‘The Ditchley portrait’)’ by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, 1592

‘Self Portrait’ by Anthony Van Dyck, c.1640

This exceptional self-portrait is one of three examples Van Dyck is known to have painted while living in Britain and was one of his late works – he died less than a year later. The strident pose, powerful eye contact and loose, confident brushwork shows the artist as both charismatic and nonchalant, as if he has just turned from painting his own canvas. This recent acquisition was the result of a major national appeal in 2014, spearheaded by the National Gallery and Art Fund, who successfully raised the money needed to purchase the work and prevent its sale to an overseas buyer, thus keeping it on display for public enjoyment indefinitely.

‘Pauline Boty’ by Pauline Boty, c.1958

This is the only stained-glass work in the NPG’s collection, created by Pop artist Pauline Boty. This beautiful, unusual self-portrait was made when Boty was a student at the Royal College of Art and incorporates experimental techniques such as layering and expressive use of glass painting. The leading is also unusually arbitrary, with non-essential pieces (such as the line dividing the face) used to aid the dramatic composition.

‘Chris Ofili’ by Chris Ofili, 1991

This closely cropped self-portrait was made when the Turner Prize-winning artist was studying at Chelsea College of Art. It is markedly different from his core oeuvre, which grapples with overarching themes of racial inequality, violence and sexual stereotypes through figurative and more abstract painting and collage. Nevertheless, it is a powerful and intimate representation of the young artist which shows all the marks of his enduring, intense painting style.

‘Map of Days’ by Grayson Perry, 2013

This unusual self-portrait doesn’t take the form of a traditional figurative representation, but rather a look at the artist’s inner psyche. The mental commentary takes the form of a map, using streets to navigate various inner conflicts such as ‘alpha masculinity’ and ‘reptilian brain’. Perry is known for his astute social commentary as well as his artistic practice, which combines contemporary media with elements of folklore and traditional craftsmanship.

1. Here's how you get to the National Portrait Gallery

Art Gallery

As one of London’s leading art galleries, the National Portrait Gallery is where you’ll see portraits of historically significant people. From Tudor kings and queens to contemporary actors and fashion icons, this is where you can take a tour through British history from the perspective of portraiture masters, including Sir Joshua Reynolds, John Singer Sargent and Paula Rego.

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