National Portrait Gallery London

National Portrait Gallery London

The National Portrait Gallery of the UK is located next to Trafalgar Square in London. It is a portrait art gallery that opened to the public in 1856. It was the world’s first portrait gallery and houses portraits of historically significant and renowned British figures.

The collection at the National Portrait Gallery London has grown to include more than 10,000 works, including photographs, drawings, paintings, sketches, and sculptures. For the National Portrait Gallery, the guiding principle is historical rather than artistic — it values the status and influence of the individuals depicted over the artistic merit of the artworks themselves. Above the main entrance are three half-relief busts of men who made outstanding contributions to the establishment of the gallery. The one in the center is Philip Henry Stanhope, the founder of the gallery, and on either side are his two staunchest supporters, Thomas Babington Macaulay and Thomas Carlyle.

The collection includes portraits of prominent figures from various fields in Britain, such as Henry VII, Edward VI, Shakespeare, Elizabeth II, and Lucian Freud. In addition, the National Portrait Gallery hosts the annual BP Portrait Award.

National Portrait Gallery, London

Reason to visit: The world’s oldest portrait gallery

Continent: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region: Britain[Britain]

Province/State: Greater London [Greater London]

City: London [London]