The Beatles by Robert Whitaker, 1964
Robert Whitaker Archive
© Robert Whitaker
Image from NPG
The National Portrait Gallery, London had just had the exhibition 'Beatles to Bowie: The 60s Exposed', showcasing photographs of the leading pop music figures that defined the 'Swinging London' of the 1960s. This undoubtedly would draw a lot of fans, but then while paying homage to the superstars, it is as well interesting to take note of the photography styles of the 60s and how those contributed to the creation of the imagery for the pop.
I used to go to the NPG for my MA assignments (once being to pick a 15th Century English Royal portrait and make a presentation of it), and this treasure trove has always been outshone by its glorious neighbour, the National Gallery. Nevertheless the NPG hosts portraits of historic figures across several centuries, tracing the nation's history and its evolution of artistic style, and is a great place for students both of history and art. I therefore sincerely applaud NPG's endeavour this time to bring more life and glamour to its exhibition halls while at the same time extend their notion of historic portraiture.
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