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PAST EXHIBITION ARCHIVE
Icons and Idols:
Commissioning Contemporary Portraits
2 March - 18 June 2006
Porter Gallery
Admission Free
Exhibition supported by the
Patrons of the National Portrait Gallery
Germaine Greer
by Paula Rego, 1995
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Publication
| On Tour | Commissioning
portraits
From Prince Charles to David
Beckham, Icons and Idols: Commissioning Contemporary Portraits
explores the activities of the National Portrait Gallery over
the past 25 years in commissioning portraits of celebrated individuals
for the collection.
The Gallery began commissioning
on a regular basis in 1980 and over the succeeding quarter-century
has added some 130 commissioned paintings, drawings, sculpture
and mixed media works to the collection as well as many photographs.
This is a unique record of patronage in the museum world, attracting
great public interest and sometimes provoking keen debate. But
it is a process not without its risks in marrying artist and
sitter to produce an image of public credibility, which should
be of enduring value to the Nation. How successful has the Gallery
been in adding works to the collection and encouraging the art
of portraiture?
This exhibition explores the
creation of the portrait from the choice of subject and the selection
of artist, through questions of how an image is formulated, exploring
problems in making commissions work. It explores the reactions
of those involved: sitter and artist, staff and Trustees, and
of course the wider public.
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