Bust

National Portrait Gallery - Van Dyck

Inscription

Van Dyck

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 .."

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

Subjects commemorated i

Sir Anthony Van Dyck

Grew up in Antwerp and was trained by Rubens. Visited London in 1620 for a ...

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

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

James Palmer bust

James Palmer bust

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The plaque immediately below the bust is blank but there are 4 others below that, each with an inscription.  The text of the upper three ...

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Hitchcock bust

Hitchcock bust

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There's a suggestion in the sculpture that the face is actually a mask.

1 subject commemorated, 37 creators
Greenwich roundels - Howard

Greenwich roundels - Howard

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The roundels on the north, river-facing, frontage are occupied by, left to right: Anson, Drake, Cook, Howard, Blake, Benbow, Sandwich, Ro...

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RIPWC - De Wint

RIPWC - De Wint

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The building by E. R. Robson was erected for the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colour, founded in 1831 (the crest in the centre of...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Old Westminster Library - head 4 - Dryden

Old Westminster Library - head 4 - Dryden

SW1, Great Smith Street

The foundation stone is immediately to the right of the central entrance. Above the entrance: "Westminster Public Library, The united pa...

1 subject commemorated