Exposed: The Naked Portrait

Small exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery looking at portraits of people naked and discussing how they can represent vulnerability or self-assurance

It was nice to see Vanessa Bell’s portrait of David Garnett and see it hung next to Duncan Grant’s of Mallory. The show pointed out that the Vanessa is a rare picture by a woman of a naked man. There was a lovely Leigh Bowery by Bruce Bernard taken at one of his sittings for Lucien Freud. I find it strange that a man who was remembered in his lifetime for extravagant costumes is now better known for being without clothes. I also liked a Germaine Greer by Polly Borland where it had been Germaine’s idea to be naked as she thought that is she was pictured clothed on a bed It might look like a nursing home!

Closes 11 September 2016

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