Bust

National Portrait Gallery - Kneller

Inscription

Kneller

Site: National Portrait Gallery (18 memorials)

WC2, Charing Cross Road

This building, 1896, designed by Ewan Christian, has 18 busts contained in medallions around the top of the facades. Starting at the east end of Orange Street and reading clockwise:
Facing north up Charing Cross Road: Chantrey, Lawrence, Reynolds, Hogarth, Roubilliac, Kneller, Lely, Van Dyke, Holbein.
Around the corner, facing east: Walpole, Clarendon, Fuller.
Facing north beside the entrance: Lodge, Faithorne, Granger.
Facing east, above the entrance are represented the three men chiefly responsible for the Gallery's existence: MacAulay, Stanhope, Carlyle.

2019: The Guardian reported on plans to move the entrance to this museum from the east side of the building round to the north side, where the Irving statue is.

2023: Londonist reported that the north entrance is now open and boasts three sets of doors etched with artworks by Tracy Emin. These show faces of 45 women, not specific or identifiable figures but, as the artist is quoted: "it's up to the viewer to discern what they feel and what they see or who they see..." Londonist sees 'The Doors' as "a direct challenge to/balancing act with the slew of Portland stone busts carved into the building’s original façade, featuring 18 men .."

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
National Portrait Gallery - Kneller

Subjects commemorated i

Sir Godfrey Kneller

Portrait painter. His set of portraits of Kit-Cat Club members is on display ...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
National Portrait Gallery - Kneller

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

Previously viewed

Marylebone Cricket Club

Marylebone Cricket Club

Cricket's ruling body.  Founded when the first match was played at Lord's cricket ground at Dorset Fields on 1st June 1787.  Most county clubs at this time were exclusive clubs for titled men, 'ama...

Group, Sport / Games

5 memorials
New Cross Fire - Town Hall

New Cross Fire - Town Hall

SE6, Rushey Green, Lewisham Town Hall

Unveiled by Sybil Phoenix, a community leader who had been called to the scene the morning after the fire.

15 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Civil engineer. Born Portsea, Hampshire. Constructions include: Great Western Railway and the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Died at home, 18 Duke Street (see below). A very popular Brit, as illustrate...

Person, Engineering, Seriously Famous

10 memorials
Air Marshal Lord Hugh Montague Trenchard

Air Marshal Lord Hugh Montague Trenchard

Founder of the Royal Air Force.  Born Somerset.  Aged 20 joined the Second Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers and served in India, in the Boer War and in Nigeria.  Learnt to fly in 1912 and ser...

Person, Armed Forces, India, Nigeria, South Africa

1 memorial
Humphrey Geoffrey Brown

Humphrey Geoffrey Brown

Our colleague, Andrew Behan, has researched this young man: Humphrey Geoffrey Brown was born on 4 July 1962 and died, aged 18 years, on 18 January 1981 in a fire at party being held at 439 New Cros...

Person, Tragedy

2 memorials