Dimensions: support: 1422 x 1118 mm
Copyright: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Curator: Sir Hubert von Herkomer painted this portrait of Sir Henry Tate. Editor: He looks like he is about to tell you exactly what he thinks. The painting feels quite imposing. Curator: Von Herkomer has used a limited tonal range, with a clear emphasis on the textures of the face, contrasting against the dark, almost dissolving background. Editor: And that subtle upward gaze feels so calculated, doesn't it? It lends him an air of authority, an unshakeable presence. Curator: Indeed. The formal composition, combined with the strategic lighting, reinforces Tate’s stature, reflecting the sitter's influence and philanthropy. Editor: It is powerful. I feel like he is peering right into my soul. Curator: Well, it gives one pause to ponder the effect such precise rendering has on our interpretation of power, doesn’t it? Editor: Absolutely. It leaves a lasting impression of a formidable character.
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/von-herkomer-sir-henry-tate-n03517
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The sugar magnate, Sir Henry Tate, sponsored numerous projects relating to public education, health and welfare. He presented his collection of nineteenth-century British art to the nation and paid for a gallery to house it. This portrait was completed in the year that the National Gallery of British Art, on the site of the old Millbank Penitentiary, was opened by the Prince of Wales. Only in 1932 did the institution become officially known as the Tate Gallery. Gallery label, August 2004
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