John Wyver

Sandy Nairne

Geoff Dunlop

Ideas and Images in the 1980s

State of the Art

In 1994 two important paintings by J.M.W. Turner—then valued at twenty-four million pounds—were stolen from a German public gallery while on loan from Tate Britain. In this vivid, personal account, Sandy Nairne who was then Director of Programmes at the Tate and became centrally involved in the pursuit of the paintings and the negotiations for their return, retells this complex, 8-year, cloak-and-dagger story, which finally concluded in 2002 with the pictures returning to public display at the Tate. In addition to this thrilling narrative, Nairne unravels stories of other high-value art thefts, puzzling what motivates a thief to steal a well-known work of art that cannot be sold, even on the black market. Nairne also examines the role of art theft within the larger underworld of international looting and illicit deals among art and antique collectors. The art heist, of course, is a popular theme of crime novels and films, and Nairne considers these depictions as well, investigating the imaginative construction of the art thief, the specialist detective, and the mysterious collector. Art Theft and the Case of the Stolen Turners is a compelling, real-life detective story that will keep both art and mystery lovers eagerly turning pages.

Art Theft and the Case of the Stolen Turners

Sarah Howgate

Andrew Graham-Dixon

Jo Higgins

With over 150 illustrations from fifty artists, 21st Century Portraits explores n ew developments in the representation of the human form and face as well as the continuing appeal of commissioned portraiture. The selection of portraits features cutting - edge new work from the international art community, and reflects an increasing inter est in identity worldwide. Organised thematically, the book examines seven key strands of portraiture: Observational Portraits; Self - Portraits; Commissioned and Celebrity Portraits; Social Portraits; Geopolitics and National Identity; The Body; Re - invented Portraits. With a foreword by Andrew Graham - Dixon and an essay by Sandy Nairne (Director of the National Portrait Gallery) and Sarah Howgate (Curator of Contemporary Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery) that locates contemporary portraiture withi n a historic tradition, 21st Century Portraits examines current trends, showcasing the wide range of media used by todays artists. The book also includes an extensive list of suggested further reading.

21st Century Portraits

Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery

Bruce W. Ferguson

Space Invaders

Institute of Contemporary Arts (London)

Works by Eric Bainbridge, Tony Bevan, Glenys Johnson, Derek Marks

Before it Hits the Floor

This is an introductory guide to contemporary portraiture through the prism of the National Portrait Gallery, London. The gallery's director and contemporary curator discuss key works from the collection and invite readers to consider recent developments in portraiture.

A Guide to Contemporary Portraits

Reesa Greenberg

An anthology of writings on exhibition practice from artists, critics, curators and art historians plus artist-curators. It addresses the contradictions posed by museum and gallery sited exhibitions, as well as investigating the challenge of staging art presentations, displays or performances, in settings outside of traditional museum or gallery locales.

Thinking About Exhibitions

National Portrait Gallery (Great Britain)

British Petroleum Company

A compilation of prize-winning portraits from 1990 through 2010.

BP Portrait Award

500 Portraits

Provides a collection of contemporary portraits from around the world.

The Portrait Now

Why has the month of November had a special significance – a month in which I seem to have often experienced some particular, even notable, event, change, or development? Chalk it up to chance? Difficult to be sure about that. Sir Patrick Nairne led a remarkable life with a ringside view of history in the making. He fought with the Seaforth Highlanders in North Africa; worked in the post-war Admiralty and Ministry of Defence; organised the first EU Referendum in 1975; led the Department for Health and Social Security; contributed to the Falkland Islands Review Committee; monitored the consultation process in Hong Kong before the territory was handed back to China; and served as the first Chair of the Nuffield Council on bioethics. Patrick was one of the most notable British civil servants of the twentieth century, and in his later years, after being master of St Catherine’s College, Oxford, began to write about his fascinating life and career. In The Coincidence of Novembers, Patrick’s son – curator and writer Sandy Nairne – assembles his father’s writings, including autobiographical pieces from his papers, into a volume which offers a snapshot of the range of his thinking and creativity: his first-hand experience of significant events in public affairs, his watercolours, and his meditations on a life spent working for the public good.

Writings from a life of public service by Sir Patrick Nairne

The Coincidence of Novembers

Tarnya Cooper

A national pantheon of the greatest names in British history and culture, the Collection of the National Portrait Gallery contains more than 11,000 paintings, sculptures and works on paper and over a quarter of a million photographs. There are kings and queens, courtiers and courtesans, politicians and poets, soldiers and scientists, artists and writers, philosophers and film stars individuals from every sphere. This book presents a broad selection of the personalities that have shaped the last four centuries of British life, from Elizabeth I to David Beckham, from Shakespeare to Seamus Heaney, portrayed by artists as diverse as Hans Holbein, David Bailey, Joshua Reynolds and Paula Rego. The featured works are arranged chronologically in sections, each of which is prefaced by a text written by the curator responsible for that period, drawing on their expert knowledge and recent research. Each image is accompanied by an extended caption that provides key information on the sitter and the artist and places the work in its historical and creative context. Special features, which include making art in Tudor Britain, miniatures, sculpture, early photography, twenty- and twenty-first-century photography, self-portraits, celebrity and non-traditional media, offer insight into particular areas of the Collection. A fascinating introductory essay explains the history and purpose of this great public institution and is illustrated with a wealth of rare and illuminating material from the Gallerys extensive archive, including photographs, plans, letters and sketchbooks, some previously unpublished.

A Portrait of Britain

National Portrait Gallery

Peter Mather

The National Portrait Gallerys painted portrait Award, one of Britains most prestigious art prizes, is the leading showcase for artists throughout the world specialising in portraiture. During the course of the past twenty-­‐five years, portraits by more than 15,000 artists have been selected for the accompanying exhibition, which has attracted more than 4 million visitors. To celebrate this milestone, the National Portrait Gallery is publishing this new, updated edition of 500 Portraits, which features works from each of the twenty-­‐five years since BPs sponsorship of the exhibition began in 1990. This highly illustrated compendium features more than 500 paintings from many of the best figurative artists active over the past quarter century, including Jonathan Yeo, Stuart Pearson Wright, Paul Emsley, Annabel Cullen and Ishbel Myerscough. Reflecting the diverse methods of contemporary portrait practice, the portraits, rendered in an array of styles from photorealism to expressionism, capture an exceptional wealth of subjects. From honest self-­‐portraits and warm portrayals of families and children to fan portraits of celebrities and professionals in the workplace, the rich and varied selection demonstrates what inspires portrait painters. As well as the works that appeared in the exhibitions, the book includes reproductions of portraits commissioned by the Gallery from competition finalists. These include portraits of Dame Kelly Holmes, Sir Michael Caine, Sir Willard White and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Each year, one artist receives the Travel Award, which provides them with the opportunity to make paintings further afield; the best of these are featured in this new edition. This book is a key reference not only for anyone interested in the history of the Award and its impact on the status of portraiture in the UK, but also for students and professional artists alike. Originally published in 2010, 500 Portraits has received high praise from several readers: Simply the best book on this subject ever printed. My copy never gets put away and Im already looking forward to the next volume. Comprehensive, useful, professional and very well presented. for studying compositions its really handy. I wouldnt be without it. A great selection of portraits in all styles.

Sandy Nairne

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