About the Museum
Founded in 1856, this institution is home to the largest collection of portraits in the world, featuring works dating from the Middle Ages to the present day. With more than 1,000 portraits on display, visitors can come face-to-face with legends who have shaped British history and culture, from Elizabeth I and Charles Dickens, to The Beatles and David Beckham. Artists range from Hans Holbein to David Hockney, and the collection includes works across all media, from painting and sculpture to photography and video.
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Collection Highlights
Joshua ReynoldsSir Joshua Reynolds, c.1747-1749
Thomas LawrenceWilliam Wilberforce, 1828
Alessandro RahoDame Judi Dench, 2004
George Charles BeresfordVirginia Woolf, 1902
Marcus Gheeraerts the YoungerQueen Elizabeth I ('The Ditchley portrait'), c.1592
