National Portrait Gallery

Located close to Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery in London offers a wonderful glimpse at the many people who influenced the development of Britain. From members of the royal family to historical kings and queens, the Portrait Gallery is not only a walk through English pictorial history, but the arrangement of newer paintings combined with older ones was a fresh and engaging curatorial choice. It was wonderful to spot well-known historical figures like Richard III, Henry VIII, and Winston Churchill. The differences of contemporary dress, hairstyles, and customs were wonderful to identify, but also the changes in artistic techniques of the individuals portrayed. I had a wonderful time seeing familiar faces and also learning more about British culture.