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 .."

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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

The George

The George

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1 subject commemorated
King Lud - roof top

King Lud - roof top

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Number 12, the eastern half of the building on this concave corner is, 2014, occupied by Leon, but it used to be the pub The King Lud. Bu...

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John F. Kennedy bust - Marylebone Road

John F. Kennedy bust - Marylebone Road

W1, Marylebone Road, 1, International Students' Hostel

The original bust was first installed in 1965 in Military Park, Newark, New Jersey. Additional bronzes were cast for this site and for th...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Christabel Pankhurst

Christabel Pankhurst

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We double checked the "1881" - that is what is carved, it's not our mistype. She was born September 1880.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Italian Garden - Albert

Italian Garden - Albert

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Our photo shows the south-west corner of the garden presided over by Victoria. Albert watches over the south-east corner. Each profile is...

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Previously viewed

193 Fleet Street - 5 - Michelangelo

193 Fleet Street - 5 - Michelangelo

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Building erected in 1883 by George Attenborough for his jewellery and pawn-broking business, Attenborough and Sons. Architects: Archer an...

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A. Brant
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William Wagstaff

William Wagstaff

William Wheatley Wagstaff. Sculptor, architectural sculptor, stone carver, sculpture business and foundry owner. Born Keighley, West Yorkshire. By 1910 he had moved to London. WW1 he was employed ...

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2 memorials
Silver Jubilee bench

Silver Jubilee bench

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We don't normally collect benches but large, unusual plaques like this one are irresistible.

2 subjects commemorated