National Portrait Gallery

Anna and I walked past the National Portrait Gallery, and as the entrance is free (!), I managed to convince her to come for a quick browse, since I didn’t have time to visit it last time I was at the National Gallery.

This is the most extensive collection of portraits in the world, comprising of works from the 8th century to present day, in a wide variety of mediums.

Lucian Freud, Self-Portrait, 1963

I throughly enjoyed the visit, and grabbed a lot of photos, as I normally do. What follows are some of them...
Amy Winehouse (Amy-Blue), Marlene Dumas, 2011:

I even bought the Museum Catalogue, as a lot of the information they share here can be used for the portraits I present in my tours at LAD as well. I also found many artists I recognised, Boldini below f.e.
Gertrude Elizabeth, Lady Colin Campbell; Giovanni Boldini, 1886:

 

The portraits tell the story of Britain through the lives of those who have shaped and are shaping the nation, its culture and identity. It's a very fascinating mix of portraits, and people. 

Virgina Wolf, Vanessa Bell, 1912 

Sir Winston Churchill, Graham Sutherland, 1954

Diana, Princess of Wales, Bryan Organ, 1981:

Frederick Douglass, Elizabeth Peyton, 1850

Marc Quinn, Self-Portrait, 1991. This was a most fascinating encounter. This self-portrait is cast with ten pints of Quinn's frozen blood. The work is carefully maintained in a refrigeration unit, reminding the viewer of the fragility of existence. The first version of Self was made in 1991 and every five years the artist made a new version, documenting his own physical deterioration. 

 
We only did a very quick walk-through, I will have to come back here next time I come to London. So much to see and admire!