Timeline - National Portrait Gallery Reopening National Portrait Gallery reopens in partnership with HSF

Human, timeless, contemporary – National Portrait Gallery reopens in partnership with Herbert Smith Freehills

Commenting on the reopening and the firm's partnership, our Executive Partner (UK, US and EMEA) Alison Brown said: "We are delighted to continue our long-standing relationship with the National Portrait Gallery – an organisation uniquely placed to showcase the rich tapestry of our social history and build an understanding of what binds us together." Major exhibitions to be unveiled to coincide with reopening include Yevonde: Life and Colour, displaying works by pioneering colour photographer, Yevonde, made throughout her 60-year career, and Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm, featuring portraits captured by McCartney at the height of Beatlemania. Founded in 1856 with the aim of collecting portraits of "the most eminent persons in British history", the Gallery houses more than 215,000 portraits and has broadened its role to reflect a wider narrative of the nation through its people.

We are continuing our longstanding support of London's National Portrait Gallery as official Reopening Partner following the most significant redevelopment in the Gallery's history, with doors opening on 22 June for the first time since 2020. The redevelopment project – titled Inspiring People – includes a comprehensive redisplay of the Gallery’s collection, which spans from the Tudor period to contemporary works. Portraits will be exhibited in beautifully refurbished galleries, which showcase the Grade I-listed building and its various historic features. The designs, drawn up by Jamie Fobert Architects in partnership with heritage consultancy Purcell, will see the return of the Gallery’s East Wing to public use as the Weston Wing, restoring original gallery spaces and creating new retail and catering facilities. The first floor will become The Blavatnik Wing, encompassing nine galleries, exploring society and culture in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Gallery’s Ross Place entrance will create three new doors, converted from large windows, opening up the North Façade of the building in St Martin’s Place. The new Mildred and Simon Palley Learning Centre will also welcome visitors of all ages with studios, breakout spaces and high-quality facilities.

Home to the most extensive collection of portraits in the world, the Gallery reopened on 22 June 2023 with Herbert Smith Freehills as Reopening Partner

We are delighted to continue our long-standing relationship with the National Portrait Gallery – an organisation uniquely placed to showcase the rich tapestry of our social history and build an understanding of what binds us together."

VIDEO HERE

Our longstanding relationship

Between 2004-2007 the firm supported the Gallery's exhibitions and its 150th Anniversary before becoming its annual Spring Season partner in 2008. Over the course of 19 years of partnership, we have supported numerous world-class exhibitions:

Yevonde: Life and Colour

Alison Brown, Herbert Smith Freehills Executive Partner, (UK, US and EMEA)

Vivien Leigh by Yevonde (1936, printed 2022-3), purchased with support from the Portrait Fund, 2021 © National Portrait Gallery, London

Cecil Beaton Portraits

2004

Lee Miller: Portraits

2005

150th Anniversary sponsorship and Icons and Idols: Commissioning Contemporary Portraits

2006

Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913-2008 and Brilliant Women: 18th Century Bluestockings

2008

Gerhard Richter Portraits and Constable Portraits: The Painter and His Circle

2009

Irving Penn Portraits and The Indian Portrait: 1560-1860

2010

Hoppe Portraits and Ida Kar: Bohemian Photographer

2011

Lucian Freud Portraits and The Queen: Art and Image

2012

Man Ray and George Catlin: American Indian Portraits

2013

Bailey’s Stardust and The Great War in Portraits

2014

Sargent: Portraits of Artists and Friends and Wellington: Triumphs, Politics and Passions

2015

Vogue 100: A Century of Style

2016

Howard Hodgkin: Absent Friends and Gillian Wearing and Claude Cahun: Behind the Mask

2017

Tacita Dean: PORTRAIT and Victorian Giants: The Birth of Art Photography

2018

Martin Parr: Only Human and Elizabethan Treasures: Miniatures by Hilliard and Oliver

2019

David Hockney: Drawing from Life and Cecil Beaton's Bright Young Things

2020

Portrait of Mai (Omai), Sir Joshua Reynolds c 1776, Oil on canvas; 236 x 145.5cm. Image courtesy of National Portrait Gallery, London and Getty

Human, timeless, contemporary - National Portrait Gallery reopens in partnership with Herbert Smith Freehills

For more information, contact privateevents@hsf.com

Reopening Partner of the new National Portrait Gallery

2023