About us

	Nora and Lilian Caldicot, child models, by Bassano, 1910 (detail)
	© National Portrait Gallery, London

Understanding British Portraits is an active network with free membership for professionals working with British portraits including curators, museum learning professionals, researchers, academics and conservators.

We aim to enhance the knowledge and understanding of portratis in all media in British collections, for the benefit of future research, exhibitions, interpretation, display and learning programmes.

We are engaged in the following activities:

 - A programme of seminars and visits to private collections. See our Event Archive here.

 - Mapping portrait collections of every size and nature throughout the UK, both private and public. See more on collections mapping here.

 - Mapping research and expertise in portraiture and associated disciplines. See more on expertise mapping here.

 - Providing three online toolkits to assist in the research, display, and interpretation of portraits. See the toolkits here.

 - Updating our members regularly by e-newsletter on the activities of the Network, and other portrait-related events throughout the country. Sign up for the newsletter here.

Understanding British Portraits was initially funded by an implementation grant under the Renaissance programme at MLA. The Steering Group members for the network are the National Portrait Gallery, the National Trust, the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Renaissance North East and Renaissance South West.

Please see the links next to the logos below for access to the websites of the supporting organisations.

	National Portrait Gallery
	© National Portrait Gallery, London

	RENAISSANCE museums for changing lives
	© RENAISSANCE

	The National Trust
	© The National Trust

	Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
	© ODNB

	Arts Council England
	© ACE

	Nora and Lilian Caldicot, child models, by Bassano, 1910 (detail)
	© National Portrait Gallery, London

Understanding British Portraits is an active network with free membership for professionals working with British portraits including curators, museum learning professionals, researchers, academics and conservators.

We aim to enhance the knowledge and understanding of portratis in all media in British collections, for the benefit of future research, exhibitions, interpretation, display and learning programmes.

We are engaged in the following activities:

 - A programme of seminars and visits to private collections. See our Event Archive here.

 - Mapping portrait collections of every size and nature throughout the UK, both private and public. See more on collections mapping here.

 - Mapping research and expertise in portraiture and associated disciplines. See more on expertise mapping here.

 - Providing three online toolkits to assist in the research, display, and interpretation of portraits. See the toolkits here.

 - Updating our members regularly by e-newsletter on the activities of the Network, and other portrait-related events throughout the country. Sign up for the newsletter here.

Understanding British Portraits was initially funded by an implementation grant under the Renaissance programme at MLA. The Steering Group members for the network are the National Portrait Gallery, the National Trust, the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Renaissance North East and Renaissance South West.

Please see the links next to the logos below for access to the websites of the supporting organisations.

	National Portrait Gallery
	© National Portrait Gallery, London

	RENAISSANCE museums for changing lives
	© RENAISSANCE

	The National Trust
	© The National Trust

	Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
	© ODNB

	Arts Council England
	© ACE