Tag Archives: National Portrait Gallery

‘Gibson of Rome’

John Gibson RA: A British Sculptor in Rome, Tennant Gallery and Council Room, Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1, until 18th December 2016

John Gibson, R.A. (1790-1866) Sleeping Shepherd Boy 1818 Bequeathed by John Gibson, R.A., 1866 Plaster 110.50 x 47.0 x 94.0 cm Photo credit: (c) Royal Academy of Arts, London

John Gibson, R.A. (1790-1866)
Sleeping Shepherd Boy
1818
Bequeathed by John Gibson, R.A., 1866
Plaster
110.50 x 47.0 x 94.0 cm
Photo credit: (c) Royal Academy of Arts, London

It is a hundred and fifty years since the death of John Gibson RA (1790-1866) who was a leading neoclassical sculptor of his time. He was born in the Welsh town of Conwy but when still a child moved with his family to Liverpool. He was enthralled by Ancient Greek and Roman Art from an early age and his artistic talent and enthusiasm was recognised by a group of supporters who raised the wherewithal for him to go on a study trip to Italy in 1817.

John Gibson, R.A. (1790-1866) Cupid pursuing Psyche Before 1843 Bequeathed by John Gibson, R.A., 1866 Marble relief 72.40 x 103.50 x 10.50 cm Photo credit: (c) Royal Academy of Arts, London

John Gibson, R.A. (1790-1866)
Cupid pursuing Psyche
Before 1843
Bequeathed by John Gibson, R.A., 1866
Marble relief
72.40 x 103.50 x 10.50 cm
Photo credit: (c) Royal Academy of Arts, London

In Rome he was able to study under the leading sculptor of the day, Antonio Canova and was urged by him to set up a studio in Rome.  Gibson did so and thanks to a European clientele decided to settle there saying: ‘In England my life would be spent in making busts and statues of great men in coats and neckties; here I am employed upon poetical subjects which demand the exercise of the imagination, and the knowledge of the beautiful.’.  His sculptures were also popular in this country where he was known as ‘Gibson of Rome’ and by 1844 (the year of his first return visit) he counted the Queen and Prince Albert among his patrons. In 1836 he was elected as a Royal Academician.

Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A. (1802-1873) Portrait of John Gibson, R.A. ca.1850 Bequeathed by Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A., 1874 92.50 x 72.0 x 2.50 cm Oil on canvas Photo credit: (c) Royal Academy of Arts, London; Photographer: John Hammond

Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A. (1802-1873)
Portrait of John Gibson, R.A.
ca.1850
Bequeathed by Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A., 1874
92.50 x 72.0 x 2.50 cm
Oil on canvas
Photo credit: (c) Royal Academy of Arts, London; Photographer: John Hammond

He had bequeathed his artworks to the Royal Academy on his death in 1866 and works on show in this exhibition and others on display at Bodelwyddan Castle, Denbighshire, Wales are part of this significant bequest.

John Gibson, R.A. (1790-1866) Monument to Lady Leicester: Angel carrying infant and leading mother to heaven ca.1844 Bequeathed by John Gibson, R.A., 1866 Plaster cast 181.0 x 126.50 x 18.0 cm Photo credit: (c) Royal Academy of Arts, London

John Gibson, R.A. (1790-1866)
Monument to Lady Leicester: Angel carrying infant and leading mother to heaven
ca.1844
Bequeathed by John Gibson, R.A., 1866
Plaster cast
181.0 x 126.50 x 18.0 cm
Photo credit: (c) Royal Academy of Arts, London

This exhibition is complemented by a virtual exhibition ‘The Gibson Trail’ which has images and information on over one hundred and fifty objects in the collections of the Royal Academy, the Victoria & Albert Museum, Tate Britain, the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, the National Portrait Gallery and Buckingham Palace. The website www.gibson-trail.uk includes an interactive map showing the locations of Gibson’s works in the capital.

The Tennant Gallery and Council Room Dates and Opening Hours Exhibition open to the public: 8 September – 18 December 2016 Tuesday – Friday, 10am – 4pm Saturday – Sunday, 10am – 6pm Closed Monday

 www.royalacademy.org.uk

The Age of Tolstoy and Tchaikovsky

Russia and the Arts: The Age of Tolstoy and Tchaikovsky, National Portrait Gallery, London, until 26th June 2016

Modest Mussorgsky by Ilia Repin, 1881 Copyright: State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Modest Mussorgsky by Ilia Repin, 1881
Copyright: State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

The staging of this important exhibition is thanks to the fact that Moscow’s State Tretyakov Gallery is like the National Portrait Gallery also celebrating the one hundred and sixtieth anniversary of its foundation.

Anna Akhmatova by Olga Della-Vos-Kardovskaia, 1914 Copyright: State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Anna Akhmatova by Olga Della-Vos-Kardovskaia, 1914
Copyright: State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Twenty-two of the twenty-six Russian portraits on show have never been seen in Britain before.   They are hugely important paintings, depicting some of the key proponents of the Russian arts between 1867-1914, including Akhmatova, Chekhov, Dostoevsky, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rubinstein, Tchaikovsky, Tolstoy and Turgenev.  It is an opportunity not to be missed.

Anton Chekhov by Iosif Braz, 1898 Copyright: State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Anton Chekhov by Iosif Braz, 1898
Copyright: State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

In return for this generous loan the National Portrait Gallery has loaned works from its own collection to the Moscow Gallery for an exhibition entitled Elizabeth to Victoria: British Portraits from the Collection of the National Portrait Gallery

 

http://www.npg.org.uk

 

National Trust’s London Project – Fenton House, Hampstead

HAMPSTEAD’S VILLAGE PEOPLE: PORTRAITS OF CULTURAL ICONS, Fenton House and Gardens, Hampstead Grove, London NW3, until 29th June 2014

View of the South Front of Fenton House- Copyright National Trust Images Matthew Antrobus.

View of the South Front of Fenton House-
Copyright National Trust Images Matthew Antrobus.

This exhibition is part of The London Project a programme where the National Trust brings special events to their ten London properties to make them even more special places to visit. Hampstead has attracted artistic and intellectual residents since the early 19th century and this special exhibition, organised in conjunction with The National Portrait Gallery, brings photographic images of thirty of Hampstead’s famous residents, past and present. Elgar, Dame Judi Dench, Ricky Gervais and Peter Wynn Barkworth are just a few of those that you will see in this celebration of Hampstead lives.

Village People, Fenton House Courtesy: Sam Roberts

Village People, Fenton House
Courtesy: Sam Roberts

The 17th century house is a treasure and contains the porcelain collection of its last owner Lady Binning, as well as the Benton Fletcher collection of early musical instruments. The aforementioned actor Peter Wynn Barkworth left part of his collection of English Impressionist and Camden Town Group paintings and drawings to The National Trust to be displayed in the house.

Village People, Fenton House Courtesy: Sam Roberts

Village People, Fenton House
Courtesy: Sam Roberts

Lovers of interior decoration will also find pleasure in the interiors which were refurbished by the legendary John Fowler in 1973 for The National Trust.

A view of the Oriental Room which takes its name from the Chinese Porcelain displayed there at Fenton House London Copyright National Trust Images Nadia Mackenzie.

A view of the Oriental Room which takes its name from the Chinese Porcelain displayed there at Fenton House London
Copyright National Trust Images Nadia Mackenzie.

 

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fenton-house

BAILEY’S STARDUST at The National Portrait Gallery, London

BAILEY’S STARDUST (Sponsored by HUGO BOSS), National Portrait Gallery, London until1st June 2014

 

There is surely little contention that David Bailey ranks among the great names in photography and with a career spanning more than five decades it is seemly that much of the NPG’s ground floor is given over to showing his work.  There is also an accompanying book of the same name too.

Mick Jagger by David Bailey, 1964 © David Bailey

Mick Jagger by David Bailey, 1964 © David Bailey

 The exhibition will be one of the National Portrait Gallery’s largest ever devoted to photography. All the photographs, old and new, have been selected by Bailey and reveal how great an eye he has.

Francis Bacon by David Bailey, 1983 © David Bailey

Francis Bacon by David Bailey, 1983 © David Bailey

 As one would expect there are portraits of models, artists, filmmakers, writer, actors and subjects from many other walks of life. His various travels, – Delhi, Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Naga Hills – are also featured as are the moving images he took in East Africa to support the charity Band Aid in its fight against famine in 1985.  The exhibition is themed so there is a room each devoted to The Rolling Stones, Fashion Icons and Beauty, the East End as well.  There are selections from his famous Box of Pin-Ups which encapsulate the 1960s so well and also from Bailey’s Democracy; nude portraits of people who visited his studio in a four year period.

Jerry Hall and Helmut Newton, Cannes by David Bailey, 1983 © David Bailey

Jerry Hall and Helmut Newton, Cannes by David Bailey, 1983 © David Bailey

You may well ask what the title Bailey’s Stardust signifies?  The answer is that whatever our station in life we are all made up from stardust and that is what we will all return to.

Damon Albarn by David Bailey, 2007 © David Bailey

Damon Albarn by David Bailey, 2007 © David Bailey

www.npg.org.uk

Kate Moss by David Bailey, 2013

Kate Moss by David Bailey, 2013