Stephen Fry

Sitterback to top

• Stephen John Fry (1957-), Actor, comedian and writer. Sitter in 5 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Maggi Hambling (1945-), Painter. Artist of 8 portraits, Sitter in 13 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Tall, gangling and mildly effete, Stephen Fry has been the subject of innumerable portrait drawings by Maggi Hambling, many of which concentrate not on his face but on his gait. This portrait of his face half-crumpled by neurotic anxiety was preferred to her finished painting of him. It was acquired by the Trustees on the afternoon of the day that Fry disappeared from public view, halfway through the run of an unsuccessful production of Simon Gray's play Cell Mates.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: An Illustrated Guide, 2000, p. 234
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 234
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 233

Subject/Themeback to top

• On display at the Gallery