Featuring self-portraits by major stars of contemporary art, including Chantal Joffe RA, Jean Cooke RA and Sir Sidney Nolan.
Gainsborough’s House, the historic home of one of the leading portrait painters in England during the later 18th century, will host an exhibition focused on self-portraits made by current and recent Royal Academicians.
Opening in November, Image of the Artist: Portraits from the Royal Academy represents an unprecedented collaboration with the world-famous institution based in London’s Piccadilly and brings a selection of genuine highlights from its collection to the National Centre for Thomas Gainsborough in Suffolk.
Featuring self-portraits by major stars of contemporary art, including Chantal Joffe RA (b. 1969), Jean Cooke RA (1927-2008) and Sir Sidney Nolan RA (1917-1992), the exhibition examines the idea of artistic identity. Through portraits of the early Royal Academicians to more recent holders of this celebrated membership, it also asks how artists choose to depict themselves in their professional capacity, or indeed, to disguise themselves; ranging from the traditional establishment pose, or holding the tools of their trade, in the studio and at home. Image of the Artist reveals how artists used portraiture to create or convey various personae.
Alongside the contemporary self-portraits, visitors can also enjoy a selection of earlier examples, including one made in c. 1787 by Thomas Gainsborough RA (1727-1788).
Images of artists are closely entwined with the history of the Royal Academy – which was founded in 1768 to raise the status of art and artists in Britain and to educate aspiring artists. The early Royal Academicians, including Gainsborough, quickly recognised the potential for self-portraiture to make powerful professional public statements. Two other examples in the show are that of Nathaniel Hone RA (1718-1784) and Sir Thomas Lawrence PRA (1769-1830).
From the founding members of the Royal Academy such as Thomas Gainsborough RA and the huge group work by Henry Singleton, 1795 of forty Academicians to portraits of Patrick Proctor RA, this rich and thought-provoking exhibition provides an insight into the lives and identities of Britain’s leading and celebrated artists.
Image of the Artist: Portraits from the Royal Academy: 16 November 2024 - 20 April 2025
Gainsborough House, Suffolk, CO10 2EU
Opening times: Monday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Further Information: The Image of the Artist: Portraits from the Royal Academy