Charles Robert Saumarez Smith (1954-), Art historian

Sitter in 13 portraits
Artist of 1 portrait
Saumarez Smith was educated at King's College, Cambridge where he gained a double first in History of Art. Following a Fellowship at Harvard and research at the Warburg Institute he joined the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1982 as an Assistant Keeper responsible for the V&A/RCA MA Course in the History of Design. He was made Head of Research in 1990. He became Director of the National Portrait Gallery in 1994 and his success has seen the new Ondaatjie Wing built and existing galleries refurbished. This combined with a programme of popular and academic exhibitions, has seen visitor numbers increase to more than 1.4 million. In 2002 he succeeded Neil MacGregor as Director of the National Gallery.