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Secondary Art
The Gallery has a permanent collection
(from the 16th century to the present day) and temporary exhibitions.
We collect portraits according to historic rather than aesthetic
criteria and therefore the artists represented range from the
merely competent to the exceptional.
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This
means that the NPG is an excellent venue for studying the relative
merits of the works on display. It is therefore a popular venue
for exam work focussing on critical and contextual studies.
The gallery offers FREE discussion and practical drawing sessions
designed for key stage 3 to key stage 5, and post 16 courses.
Our Collection covers a vast range of historic and contextual
references, as it is an archive of faces from past and present.
The wide range of styles and techniques offer learners huge scope
for evaluation, response and discovery.
All our taught sessions are delivered by artists and trained
educators who are highly skilled with extensive knowledge of
the Collection, as well as an awareness of the relevant up to
date curriculum requirements. |
For each school we can provide
a maximum of
three taught sessions per term at different times for
parallel classes and will supply teachers' notes to
help you run up to three further sessions yourselves
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Gallery Discovery Tours
(For groups of 10 to
20 students)
Gallery Discovery Tour: 1 hour
Gallery Discovery Tour and Observational Drawing: 2 hours
Our expert teachers and artists will deliver an explorative,
lively Gallery tour, engaging students directly with pieces from
our permanent Collection. Each session will include discussion
opportunities and if requested, directed drawing time, for the
whole group.
Power Point Talks
Power Point Talk: 1 hour
Power Point Talk followed by optional drawing session (for groups
of less than 30): 2 hours
Looking at works within and outside our Collection, these lectures
are exciting ways to explore a theme. These interactive sessions
take place in the comfortable, spacious environment of the Ondaatje
Wing Theatre. For large numbers such a presentation is advantageous
and suitable for pre-Gallery visits or drawing activities.
In both Gallery tours and presentations, our highly trained
staff will use discussion and resource based activities to suit
the ages, abilities and learning styles of your group.
For the drawing activities in
the Gallery with groups of less than 30, students will be provided
with FREE dry materials, drawing boards, paper and stools.
Groups of 30+ are welcome to book a self-directed visit to view
the collection. Students will need to bring their own drawing
materials. A ratio of one adult to ten students is required.
For further information please download the Secondary
Education Programme , or contact the learning department
on 020 7312 2483
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Topics for Art Discovery Tours
and Power Point Talks
Image and Identity
Young people are continuously exploring how to convey to others
who they are and what they feel.
The National Portrait Gallery Collection includes an extensive
range of images depicting achievers from our time and from British
history. Gallery teachers will use discussion to help students
recognise how these portraits can be interpreted in terms of
the sitter's own image and identity.
The Self-portrait
Focusing on self-portraits
in the Collection, students will be encouraged to explore ideas
about self presentation and context. Students will also have
the opportunity to discover the mood, form and process behind
some of our most interesting artists' works.
Pop Art
Exploring the history
of Pop Art from Andy Warhol's Elizabeth Taylor to Julian
Opie's Blur. Students will discuss the techniques and
context around the genre by exploring the origins and influences
of the Pop Art movement itself.
Photography and Contemporary
Portraiture
How have photography
and portrait painting influenced each other? Students will have
the opportunity to explore and make connections between a wide
variety of forms and processes. Students will be encouraged to
consider the relationships between contemporary approaches and
older works and express their own ideas and observations.
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Diana, Princess of Wales with
her sons
by John Swannell, Iris
print, 1994
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Women Artists
Students will discover
a wide range of portraits in our Collection from Vanessa Bell
to Sarah Lucas. Students can discuss and observe the contextual
restrictions belonging to the more contemporary pieces and observe
the parallel and opposing works from then and now.
Crack the Codes
When exploring symbolism,
placing a rose or a skull into the picture can suggest love or
death. Artists have used visual symbols like these for centuries.
These sessions come to life through an exciting treasure hunt,
investigating pieces from the Tudors to the Contemporary Collection,
detecting hidden meanings and messages throughout the Gallery
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Dame Laura Knight; Ella Louise
Naper
(née Champion)
by Dame Laura Knight
oil on canvas, 1913
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Self-portrait
by John Tunnard,1959 |
The Abstract Portrait
Can an abstract portrait
exist or are all portraits abstractions?
Is it possible to create the notion or concept of a person without
providing a likeness?
Could an 'abstract' portrait render the feeling or presence of
a person better than a photo-realist painting?
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If you are working on a particular
project and would like us to fit into your approach, we welcome
the opportunity to 'tailor make' a session with you. We can also
offer Gallery sessions within particular galleries.
For further information please
download the Secondary
Education Programme , or contact the learning department
on 020 7312 2483
For Gallery Sessions and Slide
Lectures advance telephone booking is essential.
We ask our visitors to be ready
to start their sessions at the booked time. We expect group leaders
to remain with their students during the sessions.
We regret that there are no parking facilities or a groups lunchroom
at the Gallery. Eating and drinking are not permitted in the
Gallery.
Contact
and Booking Information
Education
Programme 2008-09 - Secondary
(PDF file)
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