Activities

In celebration of the reopening of the National Portrait Gallery, Jo Rhymer will discuss how we can make meaningful connections with portrait paintings.
This course will consider the origins of portraiture, its various roles through history as well as its function today. Looking closely at specific works in the National Portrait Gallery Collection and beyond, we will think about ways to increase our interaction with paintings of people and to create thought-provoking encounters with both historical and contemporary works.
 
Session One: Dressed To Impress

In the first session Jo will consider the importance of resemblance in portraiture as well as discussing how historical works functioned in establishing and maintaining status. She will also discuss strategies which enable us to interact with portrait paintings. We will be looking at the work of various artists including the 15th Century painter Baldovinetti, Velázquez and Gainsborough.