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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Favourite portraits

Shakespeare to Winehouse
 

Here we have Sir Walter Raleigh. Painted in 1588, this is a man in his prime. He was a poet, an explorer, a pioneer, a prisoner, but maybe you know him as the unrequited lover of Queen Elizabeth I.

Kate on Sir Walter Raleigh
Video: 4 minutes 44

This is a portrait of Mary Neville and her son Gregory Fiennes, and it was painted in 1559 by Hans Eworth. So what really drew my curiosity and attention to this portrait is that it's the oldest portrait in the exhibition.

Lucie on Mary Neville and Gregory Fiennes
Video: 4 minutes 36

This is a sculpture of Tim Berners-Lee by the artist Sean Henry commissioned in 2015. So how do you choose your favourite portrait outta an exhibition of 80 amazing portraits?

Robert on Tim Berners-Lee
Video: 4 minutes 37

We're looking at Man's Head (Self-portrait III) from 1963 by Lucian Freud.

Annette on Lucian Freud
Video: 4 minutes 14 seconds
Shakespeare to Winehouse
Icons from the National Portrait Gallery, London
Selected images
Favourite portraits
In conversation with Jo Gilmour
In conversation with Colin Davidson
Behind the scenes

Related information

William Shakespeare, c. 1600-1610 associated with John Taylor
William Shakespeare, c. 1600-1610 associated with John Taylor
William Shakespeare, c. 1600-1610 associated with John Taylor
William Shakespeare, c. 1600-1610 associated with John Taylor

Shakespeare to Winehouse

Icons from the National Portrait Gallery, London

Previous exhibition, 2022

From Shakespeare to Winehouse, Darwin to Dickens, the Beatles, Brontë sisters and Beckham, the National Portrait Gallery London holds the world’s most extensive collection of portraits.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency