Seven Portraits: Surviving the Holocaust

Moving exhibition at the Queen’s Gallery of seven portraits of Holocaust survivors commission by Prince Charles.

The pictures were beautifully hung with the three men on the wall opposite where you came and the four women in pairs to either side. They were hung at eye level and all were about life sized so you could look them in the eye. There were excellent commentaries on their sitters and the artists.

There was an interesting array of styles as each picture was by a different artist but they were all quite realistic. I have since watched the wonderful documentary on the commission was impressed by the relationships which emerged between the sitters and artists and heard their moving stories in more detail. Most people at the show seemed to have already seen the programme and were telling each other the stories.

How difficult to pick a favourite as I loved them all but I did love this hyper real portrait of Arek Hersh by Massimiliano Pironti particularly his painting of a black and white photograph in the background. I liked how a number of the siters included personal items such as Lily Ebert’s locket picked out in gold leaf by the artist Ishbel Myerscoughand Anita Lasker-Waliffisch’s photographs of her playing the cello.

All in all a beautiful show and it was wonderful to see it so well attended.

Closed 13 February 2022

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