The events of 1914-18 are defined by incredible losses and unimaginable destruction. The First World War initially embroiled the major European powers and finally became a global conflict. By the time it ended, the imperial, political and military structure in place at the beginning of the twentieth century had been changed completely. 

Claiming millions of casualties, the war was fundamentally about people. Cutting across different responsibilities, roles, backgrounds and experiences, it plunged humanity into a common predicament of shared suffering. This exhibition explores the way the War was represented through portraits – some harrowing – of those involved.

The Great War In Portraits

Listen to audio-descriptions of portraits in the NPG's Collection.

Audio description of Tracey Emin's 'Death Mask'

Audio description of Sir Anthony van Dyck's self-portrait

Audio-description of 'The Ditchley portrait' of Queen Elizabeth I

Audio-description of John Opie's painting of Mary Wollstonecraft

Audio-description of Albert Charles Challen's painting of Mary Seacole

Audio-description of Joshua Reynold's portrait of Mai

Audio-description of Gluck's self-portrait

Audio-description of a portrait of King Henry VIII and King Henry VII by Hans Holbein The Younger

Audio-description of a portrait of Katherine Parr, attributed to Master John

Audio-description of a portrait of Henry, Prince Of Wales, by Robert Peake The Elder

Audio-description of a portrait of Sir Francis Drake, by an unknown artist

Audio-description of a portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots, by Nicholas Hilliard

Audio-description of a portrait of Sir Christopher Wren by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt

Audio-description of a portrait of King Charles I by Daniel Mytens

Hear from the Gallery's Director, Dr Nicholas Cullinan, as he welcomes you into the recently reopened Gallery, and shares some architectural features to spot during the tour.

Introduction to 'Meet the portraits'

Audio-description of Georgina Agnes Brackenbury's portrait of Emmeline Pankhurst

Audio-description of Sir George Hayter's portrait Queen Victoria

Audio-description of Sir Peter Lely's portrait of Queen Mary II

Audio-description of Franz Xaver Winterhalter's portrait of Prince Albert

Audio-description of Suzi Malin's portrait of Sir Elton John

Audio-description of Thomas Jones Barker's 'The Secret of England's Greatness'

Audio-description of Shirin Neshat's portrait of Malala Yousafzai

Mai (Omai) - Journeys with Mai tour

Sir Joseph Banks - Journeys with Mai tour

James Cook - Journeys with Mai tour

Mai (Omai), Sir Joshua Banks, & Daniel Solander - Journeys with Mai tour

Ravelle Pillay

Mary Reid Kelley and Patrick Kelley

Helen Cammock

Diana De Dier

Małgorzata Mirga-Tas

Charmaine Watkiss

Mary Evans

Soheila Sokhanvari

Our resident DJ Edward Otchere creates a carefully crafted themed soundscape for the National Portrait Gallery's Late Shift events, making the Main Hall resonate.

Otchere plays a strictly vinyl set. He’s passionate about sourcing records from all over the world, to find the best examples of the rich sonic qualities of analogue recordings. He has been skillfully distilling 20th century musical masterpieces since his first residency at the BBC’s Bush House Club in the early noughties to his more recent performances at Brunswick House Cafe. He has provided soundscapes for venues such as SupperClub, Chinawhite and currently hosts a weekly show on Hoxton.fm

For more information on Late Shift at the National Portrait Gallery, visit our website: http://ow.ly/mdD16

Late Shift Mix: June 2013 - Resident DJ Edward Otchere

Founded in 1856, the National Portrait Gallery, London holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. 

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