The 1st of March marks the start of the main season here at Beningbrough, and the house is preparing to wake up after its winter rest. Along with all of the usual activity which accompanies the approach of the new season, there has also been additional excitement surrounding a brand new display of art works arriving in the hall. This year contemporary portraits from the National Portrait Gallery’s contemporary collection will be on display alongside the historic paintings which form the permanent collection in the house. To mark the 300th anniversary of the accession of the House of Hanover (which lasted until Queen Victoria’s death), this display will show members of today’s Royal family in the context of their ancestors.
Some famous and celebrated pieces will be on show, such as this portrait of the dashing Princes William and Harry by Nicky Philipps in the visiting portraits room and Andy Warhol’s colourful interpretation of Queen Elizabeth II in the Baroque saloon. Several works by Mario Testino will be featured, including the last official portrait of Diana Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s official engagement photograph. This will also be the first public viewing of Prince George’s official christening photograph by Jason Bell.
Queen Elizabeth II ('Lightness of Being') by Chris Levine
lenticular print on lightbox, 2007 © Chris Levine
lenticular print on lightbox, 2007 © Chris Levine
In this photo an art conservator inspecting the installation of an unusual portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Chris Levine. This image was an unexpected outtake from a bigger project the artist undertook in 2004. ‘Equanimity’ was a commission which commemorated the Isle of Jersey’s 800th year of allegiance to the crown with a special holographic portrait, requiring hundreds of photographs to be taken of the Queen. In between takes she rested for a moment, and this is the image captured in ‘Lightness of Being’. As well as using modern techniques, this portrait shows it’s sitter in a personal, reflective moment, providing a contrast with the traditional, formal portraits from the historic collection.
by John Wonnacott
oil on canvas on foamboard, 2000
© John Wonnacott / National Portrait Gallery, London
If you’re a regular visitor to Beningbrough you’ll know that the great hall is a vast, impressive space from which we introduce the house. This makes it the ideal place to display the huge twelve foot group portrait of the royal family which will greet visitors as they enter. It took six art handlers, two towers of scaffolding and three days to install this impressive piece in its new setting. Here the skilled art handlers have assembled the portrait after transit…
…and here the team have erected the painting using the scaffolding, and are positioning it in place. John Wonnacott painted this just before the millennium, to celebrate the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday. Alongside her are Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry and of course several corgis!
After so much work and planning both here and at the National Portrait Gallery, everyone at the property is excited for the new season to begin and for the public to see this display for the first time. We hope you can join us in the spring to see the impressive works for yourselves.
From 1st March we will be open Tuesday – Sunday 11am until 5pm. Please visit the website for more details about prices and opening times: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/beningbrough
From 1st March we will be open Tuesday – Sunday 11am until 5pm. Please visit the website for more details about prices and opening times: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/beningbrough
You can also visit the National Portrait Gallery website to find out more about the portraits: http://www.npg.org.uk/
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