- 50% off exhibitions with National Art Pass. - View venue &
entry details The first public portrait gallery in the world,
the National Portrait Gallery has the largest collection of its
type, housing some 11,000 portraits. © National Portrait Gallery
Opened in 1856, with founder Trustees including Disraeli and
Lord Ellesmere, the collection reflects the law-makers and
taste-shapers of British culture, from monarchs to musicians,
actors, explorers and authors. Since 1980 the gallery has
commissioned works, and it annually hosts the BP Portrait Prize
exhibition. While paintings make up the greatest proportion of
the collection, there are also photographs, videos and
multimedia installations. The permanent collection " about a
tenth of the gallery's holdings " is arranged chronologically,
allowing the visitor to journey through Britain's history as
they move from room to room. The oldest works are to be found in
the staircase, which displays a collection of carved funeral
effigies of British monarchs extending