Bust

National Portrait Gallery - Lely

Inscription

Lely

Site: National Portrait Gallery (18 memorials)

WC2, Charing Cross Road

This building, 1896, designed by Ewan Christian, has 18 busts contained in medallions around the top of the facades. Starting at the east end of Orange Street and reading clockwise:
Facing north up Charing Cross Road: Chantrey, Lawrence, Reynolds, Hogarth, Roubilliac, Kneller, Lely, Van Dyke, Holbein.
Around the corner, facing east: Walpole, Clarendon, Fuller.
Facing north beside the entrance: Lodge, Faithorne, Granger.
Facing east, above the entrance are represented the three men chiefly responsible for the Gallery's existence: MacAulay, Stanhope, Carlyle.

2019: The Guardian reported on plans to move the entrance to this museum from the east side of the building round to the north side, where the Irving statue is.

2023: Londonist reported that the north entrance is now open and boasts three sets of doors etched with artworks by Tracy Emin. These show faces of 45 women, not specific or identifiable figures but, as the artist is quoted: "it's up to the viewer to discern what they feel and what they see or who they see..." Londonist sees 'The Doors' as "a direct challenge to/balancing act with the slew of Portland stone busts carved into the building’s original façade, featuring 18 men .."

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
National Portrait Gallery - Lely

Subjects commemorated i

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
National Portrait Gallery - Lely

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

National Portrait Gallery - Fuller

National Portrait Gallery - Fuller

WC2, Charing Cross Road

This building, 1896, designed by Ewan Christian, has 18 busts contained in medallions around the top of the facades. Starting at the east...

1 subject commemorated
Guildhall - Wren bust

Guildhall - Wren bust

EC2, Guildhall Yard, Guildhall

The arcade contains four modern busts, left to right: Pepys Cromwell Shakespeare Wren and a statue of Whittington to the left.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Homer bust

Homer bust

SE1, Queen Elizabeth Street

The figures either side represent Poetry and History. Ornamental Passions has no doubt that this bust portrays Homer. Who are we to argue?

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Drill Hall - head 5 - African/Indian soldier

Drill Hall - head 5 - African/Indian soldier

W1, Chenies Street, Drill Hall

In the spandrels above the entrance door: "Bloomsbury Rifles Pro Patria Semper" ('for my country always'). The technique used for this le...

Bust at Holland House - unknown

Bust at Holland House - unknown

W8, Holland House

We think this visage probably represents an ancient sage, probably Greek or Roman: Socrates, Homer, etc., but which one?