John Mortimer

1 portrait

John Mortimer

by Tai-Shan Schierenberg
oil on canvas, 1992
71 3/4 in. x 72 in. (1825 mm x 1830 mm)
Commissioned as part of the First Prize, John Player Portrait Award, 1989, 1992
Primary Collection
NPG 6160

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Sitterback to top

Sir John Clifford Mortimer (1923-2009), Barrister, playwright and writer. Sitter in 9 portraits.

Artistback to top

Tai-Shan Schierenberg (1962-), Painter. Artist of 4 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

Mortimer sat to Tai-Shan Schierenberg in 1992 as a National Portrait Gallery commission. The sittings took place in the artist's studio behind the White House in Regent's Park; John Mortimer recalled the discomfort ('it was absolute agony') of the grim, cold surroundings, though he subsequently turned them to advantage as the setting of a murder in one of the Rumpole episodes. The portrait depicted as if hanging on the wall behind Mortimer is of the artist and was described by the sitter as 'a mysterious version of him'.

Linked publicationsback to top

Audio Guide
Gibson, Robin, The Portrait Now, 1993 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 19 November 1993 to 6 February 1994), p. 39
Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 444