Sir Richard Branson
1 portrait of Sir Richard Branson
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Sir Richard Branson
by David Mach
mixed-media (postcard and photo-collage), 1999
71 3/4 in. x 71 7/8 in. (1824 mm x 1826 mm) overall
Commissioned, 1999
Primary Collection
NPG 6494
Sitterback to top
- Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson (1950-), Business executive and entrepreneur. Sitter in 7 portraits.
Artistback to top
- David Stefan Mach (1956-), Sculptor. Artist or producer of 1 portrait, Sitter in 3 portraits.
This portraitback to top
Since making a submarine out of tyres in 1983, the Scottish artist David Mach has acquired a reputation for his witty and inventive use of unusual materials. This portrait includes numerous postcards of the Gallery's self-portrait by Dame Laura Knight.
Related worksback to top
- NPG 4839: Laura Knight with model, Ella Louise Naper ('Self Portrait') (appears within the portrait)
Linked publicationsback to top
- Howgate, Sarah; Nairne, Sandy, A Guide to Contemporary Portraits, 2009, p. 5 Read entry
Scottish artist David Mach has acquired a reputation for his witty and inventive use of unusual materials. His portrait of Sir Richard Branson (b. 1950) captures a likeness of the business entrepreneur in collage form, his face includes numerous postcards of the Gallery’s self-portrait by Dame Laura Knight.
- Parris, Matthew, Heroes and Villains: Scarfe at the National Portrait Gallery, 2003 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 30 September 2003 to 4 April 2004), p. 46
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 74
Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top
- Icons and Idols: Commissioning Contemporary Portraits (2 March 2006 - 18 June 2006)
Events of 1999back to top
Current affairs
Following referendums in 1997, The Scottish Parliament is opened and Welsh Assembly established in 1999. The new Scottish Parliament has the powers to pass legislation and alter tax. The Welsh Assembly currently has less legislative authority but controls a budget for Wales and can amend legislation passed by Westminster.The House of Lords Act removes all but 92 Hereditary Lords from the second chamber.
Art and science
Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman's film, Shakespeare in Love wins the Oscar for Best Picture. The film, starring Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Judi Dench, Geoffrey Rush, and Colin Firth, among other British screen stars, provides a fictitious account of the events that inspired William Shakespeare to write Romeo and Juliet.International
NATO begins a bombing campaign against the government of Yugoslavia following the breakdown of the Rambouillet Accords that attempted to grant Kosovo autonomy within Serbia under NATO administration. After nearly three months of bombing, Slobodan Milosevic agreed to allow a peacekeeping force to enter Kosovo and the province was placed under a United Nations Interim Administration.Comments back to top
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