Gainsborough’s Family Album at the National Portrait Gallery, London, 22nd November 2018 to 3rd February 2019

Best known for his landscapes and formal portraits, Gainsborough also painted his extended family throughout his life, leaving around 50 portraits of his close relatives and distant cousins, his household staff and even the family pets. The good humour of these paintings will make you smile in recognition of the love of Gainsborough the husband and father, and smile at the sly humour with which he turned his eye on the rest of the motley crew who made up his family.

BP Portrait Award 2018 at the National Portrait Gallery, 14th June to 23rd September 2018

In the first article, I looked at An Angel at My Table by Miriam Escofet that justifiably earned first place at the BP Portrait Award. Now in this second article, I’m going to appraise more critically the paintings awarded the second and third places, as well as the BP Young Artist award. I will also mention some of the other fine portraits that caught my eye, all of which repay close attention.