Sir Thomas Beecham, 2nd Bt
1 portrait matching these criteria:
- npg number matching '4221'
Photograph © National Portrait Gallery, London
Sir Thomas Beecham, 2nd Bt
by David Wynne
bronze head and separate hands, 1957
25 5/8 in. x 11 3/4 in. (650 mm x 300 mm) overall
Purchased, 1961
Primary Collection
NPG 4221
On display in Room 28 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
Linked publicationsback to top
- Smartify image discovery app
- Cooper, John, A Guide to the National Portrait Gallery, 2009, p. 52 Read entry
An outspoken, charismatic conductor and builder of fine orchestras, Beecham championed much new and neglected music. He had a no-nonsense approach to melody and said composers should compose tunes ‘chauffeurs and errand boys can whistle’.
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 45
Events of 1957back to top
Current affairs
Harold Macmillan takes over as Conservative prime minister, manoeuvring Eden out of power after his poor handling of the Suez Crisis the previous year.The Wolfenden Report recommends that homosexuality should no longer be a criminal offence. It still took ten years, however, before any changes were made to the law on homosexuality with the Sexual Offences Act in 1967.
Art and science
The Today Programme is first broadcast on Radio 4. This early morning current affairs programme is known for breaking major stories early, and for its hard-hitting approach and tough interviewing style. Presenters have included: Robert Robinson, Brian Redhead, Libby Purves, Jenni Murray, Sue MacGregor, John Humphrys, Anna Ford and James Naughtie.International
The Treaty of Rome leads to the formation of the European Economic Community. Officially beginning on 1st January 1958, the EEC established a European Common Market, where goods, services, labour and capital could move freely within the European member countries, and shared policies were agreed for labour, social welfare, agriculture, transport, and foreign trade. The EEC preceded the European Community, and the European Union.Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.