It’s time to confess: I know very little about portraits. I don’t have a degree in Art or History. My degree is in English, and my background is conservation, so I will apologise in advance if I appear easily pleased by the things I learnt when I attended my first Understanding British Portraits workshop! My […]
In 1856 the German art historian and Director of the Berlin Gemäldegalerie, Gustav Friedrich Waagen, arrived at Osterley Park House bearing a letter of introduction to the housekeeper. Waagen was granted access and inspected Osterley’s collection of art with the ‘utmost ease and liberty’, commenting upon works by Van Dyck, Rubens and Reynolds, and noting […]
The Understanding British Portraits study day at Knole offered an enriching variety of informed presentations by scholars engaged in the study and preservation of the house and its collection. The day’s talks were divided into two sections, each concluding with a tour and time for discussion. As a first-time visitor, I felt privileged to absorb […]
The latest British Portraits Subject Specialist Network seminar was held at Knole, generously hosted by Lord Sackville and the National Trust and expertly co-ordinated by Caroline Pegum. On a crisp March morning over thirty delegates from a range of institutions and fields assembled in the Great Hall. This being my first visit to Knole I […]
Saraid Jones received a Bursary from Understanding British Portraits in October 2013. Here she reflects on the aims of her chosen project. My fascination with the portrait of Thomas, 2nd Lord Berwick painted by Angelica Kauffman (left) began when I read the story of his Grand Tour. The Volunteers’ Library at Attingham Park is […]
Marketing staff based at Heelis (National Trust’s head office) are mostly preoccupied with attracting and retaining members, fundraising campaigns and looking after the NT brand. So I am delighted and privileged to be awarded one of the Understanding British Portraits network’s NT staff bursaries this year, and will be sharing my findings with marketing colleagues […]
